Sandesh Prabhudesai
26 May 1999
In a sudden volte face, Goa Youth Congress chief Vishnu Wagh today
unequivocally declared his support to party chief Sonia Gandhi, stating that his demand to
revoke expulsion of Sharad Pawar, Purno Sangma and Tariq Anwar was misinterpreted.
The panic-struck high command emissary to Goa, Ramesh Chennithala,
today called Wagh and instructed him to issue a press release stating that his demand was
"only a suggestion in the interest of the party unity". He was also made to talk
to Madhavrao Scindia in Delhi.
The GPYC on Tuesday had passed a resolution describing party’s
action to expel the three leaders an arbitrary one which would further damage the party
image. Demanding a debate within the party on the issue of Mrs Gandhi’s foreign
origin, the resolution had also stated that there should be no place for sycophancy and
image worship in the democratic institution like the Congress.
Its publication in the media created mixed reactions within the
Congress circles with one section strongly demanding that Wagh and his group be
immediately expelled from the party. But the observers finally decided to adopt a strategy
to hush up the matter rather than going offensive since it could directly affect election
prospects here.
"I am convinced that his intention in passing such a resolution
was not to cause damage to the party but to maintain unity", said Chennithala. He
also claimed that there existed no confusion in Goa over the issue and all are unitedly
working to win the elections, scheduled on June 4.
Wagh in the press note reiterated that he would remain loyal to the
party and would not attempt to create any division or confusion within the rank and file
of the Youth Congress. He also stated that all the youth would work unitedly for the
victory of all the Congress candidates.
As a damage control strategy, All India Youth Congress president Manoj
Tiwari and general secretary Zuber Khan are now flying down to Goa to attend the GPYC
state executive meeting on Saturday as Mrs Gandhi is coming down to address two elections
rallies the next day.
Luizinho Faleiro, the Goa PCC president, meanwhile claims that he had
also sent his resignation on the lines of other state presidents in support of Mrs Gandhi.
"But it was not released to the media on the advise of the high command observers
here to avoid confusion among the people in the midst of elections", he says.
The Bharatiya Janata Party however appears to have decided to fully
exploit the situation to divert the confused Congress voter towards them. "Will the
people know whether they are voting for the Sonia Congress or the Pawar Congress",
asks Manohar Parrikar, the party spokesperson.
Almost all the opposition parties here have geared up to exploit the
situation in their favour while the local Congress leaders are desperately trying to
project united image of the Congress. Wagh’s volte face on the issue is also
considered an attempt in this direction, though it has to be seen whether such exercise
could succeed in keeping the party together till elections.
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