A yatra, a cause, a comeback

There’s always danger in underestimating the Congress. For a brief while, it appeared that the party was writing itself off the Goan political landscape, the same one that it had dominated since the 1980s. Who could be blamed for believing that the Congress castle was tottering? The firepower against it was aimed not just by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, but also some of the opposition parties in Goa. Only the Revolutionary Goans Party seemed willing to associate itself with the Congress, quite publicly at that, at one instance even holding alliance discussions in a coffeeshop in full media glare.

Besides, in the months since the Congress in Goa had got itself a new president in Girish Chodankar, the graph of the state’s main opposition party had rapidly declined, while that of its former president Amit Patkar, the man who was replaced, had risen geometrically. The buzz in political circles was that it should have been the opposite. So, like it has occurred many times before, could anybody be faulted for thinking that the Congress had shot itself in the foot and was limping around almost aimlessly?

It appeared so, but then came the Gõy Rakhonn Yatra that has acted like a booster to the Congress, catapulting it into action and proving that the party remains relevant in the state, is the principal opposition and is the only outfit that can lead a concerted opposition campaign for power. Congress Members of Parliament, Congress Chief Ministers of other states, came and walked with the people of Goa, and then on the final day of the yatra, came Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, drawing a massive crowd. The scattered opposition parties in Goa have to acknowledge that none of them, besides the Congress, could have pulled off such a yatra in the state.

The Gõy Rakhonn Yatra didn’t create much of a flutter when it started, but as it moved across Goa, it gained strength and then, rather than the numbers of persons striding along diminishing, there were signs of an increase. That changed much for the yatra and the party. The Congress confirmed what it already knew—that its traditional support base had not deserted it—but more importantly, it learnt that it is possible for it to stage a comeback.

If one interacts with Congress workers, one can sense that there is a new hope that has been sparked in them. The party is beginning to get the first whiffs of a possible victory. It has been out of power for three terms, that is fifteen years, and to reclaim its dominant position in the state has to win back the treasury benches of the Goa Legislative Assembly that it occupied in the past.

It won’t be easy. This will not be a straight dash, but a steeplechase to navigate. The first hurdle that comes is the trust factor. The past defections by Congress MLAs has stained the party image such that it cannot easily wash it off. But, after a decade and a half in the opposition, the party has to place its trust in individuals who will stand by the party and not succumb to the pressure or lure of defection.

In this, Chodankar who has come under attack for his handling of party ticket distribution in the past, will be playing a crucial role. He has no alternative, but to shake off the mud slung on him and come out appearing clean. It’s going to be a difficult task and also a tricky one. Chodankar has to walk the talk and redeem his prestige and that of the party.

For now, the success of the yatra appears to have established Chodankar’s position as president of the state Congress. The initial rumblings at his appointment have settled down, the shine that glinted on Patkar has worn off. Chodankar now has to live up to the trust that has been placed in him by the party bosses.

For Congress, time is running out. Elections are due in about four months. They have connected with the people, but that is not going to win them elections. The connection has to be converted into votes and that’s the next hurdle. There will be many more stumbling blocks to vault over. So, after the walk, Congress now has to race.

The writer is a senior journalist, author and editor