Goa: As Congress Fumbles, Goan Catholics Turn To AAP, MGP, GFP And Even BJP

MARGAO: As the Goa unit of the Indian National Congress (INC) fumbles to find its leaders and get its act in order, Goan Catholics who make up about 30 per cent of the electorate – and otherwise were staunch supporters of the Congress till now, are turning to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Maharasthrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Forward Party (GFP) and even the BJP.

Last week, several Catholics from Mandrem in North Goa, joined the MGP as part of its minority women’s wing, under the leadership of Mandrem MGP leader Jit Arolkar.

In South Goa, several Catholics have joined the AAP, which is clearly visible from the fact that a young Catholic lad was elected during the Zilla Panchayat elections on an AAP ticket from Benaulim in South Goa.

In the last by-polls in Shiroda held in 2019, several Catholics who were otherwise die-hard supporters of Congress leader Subhash Shirodkar (who jumped to the BJP and contested on a BJP ticket), supported MGP leader Deepak Dhavalikar, who lost by a wafer thin margin to BJP’s Subhash Shirodkar.

In Taleigao constituency too, more and more Catholics are supporting the AAP candidate.

Across the length and breadth of Goa, the AAP, MGP, GFP and even the BJP are enrolling Catholics, who were once the loyal and trustworthy vote bank of the Congress, all thanks to the top leadership of the Goa unit of the Congress, which has not been able to rein in local leaders and identify winning candidates in the 40 constituencies.

This trend is visible across the length and breadth of Goa and as the Congress is fumbling, its once loyal followers are getting wooed by other political parties that seem to be “more proactive ” and responsive to “people’s needs”.

“It’s been two years and more, since 10 Congress MLAs switched sides and went over to the BJP. In the ten constituencies, the Congress faces a huge vacuum. While local leaders have formed groups, there is no ‘strong leader’ to lead the pack in either of the constituencies. The party has a history and habit of declaring tickets (and candidates) less than one month before polls, giving the candidates hardly any time to canvas and reach out to the electorate in their constituencies. The Congress is not able to put in place strong leaders to take on the ten turncoats,” says Espy Costa of Borim near Ponda and a founder-member of the Goa People’s Forum (GPF).

Shailesh Gaikwad of Mandrem says the Congress  will wait for the BJP to declare its candidates. Once the BJP has issued its list of candidates, those BJP ticket aspirants who did not get a ticket from their party will seek tickets from Congress leaders, not with an intention to win, but maybe just to split votes. This is what happened during last by-polls. The Congress Shiroda, Mapusa and Mandrem candidates were announced at the very last minute, giving them hardly 15 days to canvas.

Candidates do not spend money for campaigning unless they are sure of getting the ticket. The Congress must announce its candidates for each constituency at least 3 months in advance if they want to have any chance of winning.

“Senior leaders in the Congress Goa unit fear that if the names of the candidates are announced much in advance, the other parties will get time to forge and broker “deals” with the candidates. This proves that the party has no faith or trust in its own leaders,” opined Nuvem-based Priyanka D’souza and secretary of the Goa People’s Forum.