Panaji, August 18: President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday expressed confidence that the Congress, with the support of the people and like-minded political parties, can defeat the BJP in the next Goa Assembly election. He also gave a clear signal to the state Congress leadership to continue talks for forging an opposition alliance.

 

Addressing a meeting of the Congress Political Affairs Committee (PAC), Kharge said the party’s doors were open to like-minded forces willing to come together against what he described as the BJP’s “corrupt and destructive rule”.

Referring to the large turnout at the Congress meeting held at Verna on Monday, Kharge said it reflected a strong public desire for political change in Goa.

“Our doors for alliance are open. This is the public sentiment, which we want to act upon in the interest of the people. Like-minded political parties should be welcomed to join the alliance to defeat the BJP and its corrupt rule,” Kharge said.

AICC Goa In-charge Manickrao Thakare, Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar, GPCC President Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLAs Altone D’Costa and Carlos Ferreira, M. K. Shaikh, Capt. Viriato Fernandes, Eduardo Faleiro, Francisco Sardinha, district presidents, chiefs of frontal organisations and other senior leaders attended the meeting.

‘Opposition Must Stand With People’

Kharge said the people of Goa were themselves fighting against several decisions of the BJP government and stressed that the Congress and other opposition parties must stand firmly with citizens in these struggles.

He said Congress was supporting people and civil society groups agitating to protect their rights, land and villages. Referring to concerns raised by activists and NGOs, Kharge alleged that land conversions and development decisions under the BJP government were threatening Goa’s identity and interests.

“They have earned a lot from land deals and conversions. If this continues, then people of the state will have no value in their own state,” he alleged, urging Goans to oppose indiscriminate land conversions.

Kharge assured that the Congress would stand with citizens fighting to protect their villages from what he termed destructive development.

Warns Against Politics of Division

The Congress president also accused the BJP of attempting to benefit politically by creating religious tensions and divisions despite growing public dissatisfaction.

He said opposition parties should ensure that the BJP does not return to power by taking advantage of divisions among its opponents.

Kharge urged Congress workers and leaders to remain patient, united and prepared to make sacrifices for the larger interests of Goa. He claimed that Congress workers and supporters had faced considerable pressure during the BJP’s rule but expressed confidence that their efforts would eventually produce electoral results.

Calls for Ideological Connect

Kharge asked party leaders and workers to strengthen their connection with people by emphasising the Congress ideology of unity and inclusiveness.

“We are not here to divide and rule or suppress the voice of the people,” he said, adding that previous Congress governments had demonstrated willingness to reconsider decisions and scrap projects when faced with strong public opposition.

Significantly, Kharge asked the Goa Congress leadership to continue discussions with like-minded political parties on a possible alliance, signalling that opposition unity is likely to remain a key element of the Congress strategy for the forthcoming Assembly election.

During the PAC meeting, members also presented their views on various political, organisational and state-level issues.