The alliance talks and the TEAM GOA picture has thrown up many more questions than answers.
The first shocking observation was to see Prasad Gaonkar in the picture as the MLA had a few days ago claimed he had dumped the idea of joining Congress as he felt the party was not serious about the 2022 elections and defeating BJP.
He had said he would join the Trinamool Congress instead. Ahead of that, he made his brother resign from Congress and join TMC.
It is being said that Prasad Gaonkar’s “deal” with TMC could not happen as the Bengal party did not keep its commitment”.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
So finally, the deal between Congress and the Goa Forward Party has been struck.
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai tweeted that he met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and agreed to form Team Goa.
“Met Shri @RahulGandhi along with my colleagues @prasadgaonkr13 and @vinod_palyekar. We agreed to fight resolutely, wholeheartedly and unitedly on behalf of the people of #Goa to end the utterly corrupt, incompetent and undemocratic reign of @BJP4Goa
#ChalYaFuddem!,” Vijai Sardesai tweeted.
He added, “Continuance of Goa under @BJP4Goa rule is an impossibility! Met with Shri @RahulGandhi. Proud to be working for the 2nd liberation with the great grandson of the person who enabled the 1st! The curse of the communal and anti-Goan @DrPramodPSawant
govt will be blown away!”
Those present for the meeting were Sardesai Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, Siolim MLA Vinod Palyekar, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar, and AICC Goa in Incharge Dinesh Gundu Rao.
The alliance talks and the TEAM GOA picture has thrown up many more questions than answers.
The first shocking observation was to see Prasad Gaonkar in the picture as the MLA had a few days ago claimed he had dumped the idea of joining Congress as he felt the party was not serious about the 2022 elections and defeating BJP.
He had said he would join the Trinamool Congress instead. Ahead of that, he made his brother resign from Congress and join TMC.
It is being said that Prasad Gaonkar’s “deal” with TMC could not happen as the Bengal party did not keep its commitment”.
It’s clear that every move the politicians make is for the self-benefit and the welfare of the people is last on their minds.
Prasad Gaonkar had a short fling with BJP before the breakup, and then he seemed on the way to Congress, and he had divorced before marriage and went to TMC, and again he ditched TMC to join hands with Rahul Gandhi.
After all his escapades, Prasad should be the last person to lecture anyone on honesty.
Now coming back to the alliance picture, Goa Forward’s Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaocar’s absence was notable, and everyone had that one question in mind is Jayesh joining BJP?
Though Jayesh has often clarified that he isn’t joining any party, his absence on many party functions says otherwise. Also, he is seen more wherever the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, comes for functions.
On the alliance, which was almost inked in Delhi on Tuesday, one opines who will benefit most from the same – The Congress or the Goa Forward?
Does Congress really stand to gain from alliance with Goa Forward? The answer is a straight NO.
The only party which would gain is Goa Forward from the alliance.
After ditching the Congress and forming an alliance Government in the State with BJP, the GFP reputation has taken a severe beating. This is the main reason why Vijai Sardesai wanted a pre-poll alliance with Congress.
His tweets do not match his actions, though. He claims to be working for defeating the BJP in Goa with Congress.
However, Mr Sardesai needs to understand he was solely responsible for bringing the BJP, which was rejected by people, to power through a backdoor deal with late Manohar Parrikar.
Sardesai had expressed similar sentiments before the 2017 polls, but sadly he forgot them when election results were held. Hope the history does not repeat itself.
