By Suraj Nandrekar
Long before the days of Prime deliveries and instant noodles, I remember hearing a story that always made my uncles at the chai shop roar with laughter.
It was about three old friends meeting after years apart. One had settled in America, another in Japan, and the third had stayed back in India.
Over plates of stale wafers and endless cups of tea, they began the inevitable comparison game.
The American boasted:
“Brother, in the US, anything you order arrives in 30 minutes. That’s how developed we are!”
Not to be outdone, the Japanese friend sniffed:
“Thirty minutes? That’s prehistoric. In Japan, it’s 15 minutes, thanks to our bullet trains and zero traffic.”
Our desi friend from India sat quietly, swirling the tea in his cup.
“Fifteen minutes?” he finally said, with a smirk. “In India, we can get anything in 10 minutes. Anything.”
The NRIs choked on their wafers. “Prove it!”
So the Indian called home.
“Ramesh, get us some fresh hot samosas. Urgent. Ten minutes.”
Ramesh assured him, “Yes, saab!”
Ten minutes passed. No samosas.
Twenty minutes. Still nothing.
Thirty minutes. The NRIs were smirking like children at a magic show gone wrong.
Finally, the Indian friend decided to check. He opened the door.
And there stood Ramesh, empty-handed.
“Oh God, Ramesh! At least you showed up in 30 minutes like America. Ok, give the samosas now”
Ramesh scratched his head.
“Sir, I haven’t left yet. I’m still searching for my chappals.”
It’s a classic. A tale of grand claims, frantic delays, and the unforgettable excuse “searching for chappals.”
And if you think about it, this is exactly the story of the Congress Party in India and more precisely, in Goa.
A Party Still in Slipper Mode
Remember 2017?
The Congress was sitting pretty after the Assembly elections, comfortably ahead of the BJP. They had every chance to form the government. But what did they do instead?
They spent days squabbling over who would become the Congress Legislature Party leader.
While they were busy searching for their metaphorical slippers, the BJP strolled in, did a quick headcount, tied up with Vijai Sardesai’s Goa Forward Party, MGP, and independents, and walked away with the prize.
Fast forward to 2025. The next Assembly election is not far, just under two years away. The BJP has already fired up its formidable election machinery. Vijai Sardesai is on a taluka yatra. The Revolutionary Goans are out there making noise on every issue. AAP is quietly planting its flags in North and South Goa.
And where, you ask, is the Congress?
Still rummaging under the bed for its chappals.
Opposition or Procrastination?
It’s almost poetic how consistent the Congress is in its ability to be inconsistent. While every other party is crafting narratives and mobilising workers, Congress leaders are likely still debating:
Should we hold a press conference about our search for leadership?
Or should we first search for the people who will search for leadership?
You know what they say – some people run marathons, some people run sprints, and some people are still at the starting line, adjusting their footwear.
When the Samosas Finally Arrive
So as the rest of Goa’s political landscape prepares for the 2027 showdown, the Congress is busy confirming whether the chappals are lost, stolen, or simply misplaced.
And when they finally find them, maybe—just maybe they’ll discover the samosas of public goodwill have long gone cold.
Until then, dear reader, don’t be surprised if Congress leaders appear breathless on TV next year, declaring, “We are ready now!”
Because in the timeless tradition of Ramesh and the missing slippers, the Congress might always arrive, just 30 minutes too late.
Enjoy your Sunday. And if you ever plan to form a government, remember: locate your chappals first.
