Margao: As Congress’ Goy Rakhon Yatra enters its final leg, party functionaries face the challenge of drawing numbers in a belt dominated by incumbent BJP MLAs. The 27-day yatra reached Sanguem on Thursday, arrives at Sanvordem and Curchorem on Friday, passes through Curtorim on Saturday and culminates in Margao on Sunday.The newly appointed Curchorem block president Sanjay Dessai said, “Congress has been out of office in Curchorem for 15 years. The workers are there, the supporters are there; they just need to be motivated. But people don’t want to pledge their support openly for fear of retribution from the powers that be. That’s our greatest challenge.”Congress candidate Amit Patkar lost narrowly to BJP’s Nilesh Cabral in the last election.Sources said all the aspirants for the party ticket in Curchorem — former councillors Balkrishna Hodarkar and Pushkal Sawant, who have already staked their claim — have been told to “work forcefully” in the constituency, and that the ticket would go to the one who puts in the best performance. This approach of the party leadership, sources said, has worked in the party’s favour in ensuring numbers at the yatra in constituencies with multiple ticket aspirants, and there are many such constituencies.All eyes will also be on the role former state president Amit Patkar plays when the yatra reaches Curchorem. Patkar was removed as state president in May and has since maintained a distance from the party’s activities.Patkar, however, has kept his cards close to his chest. Some of his close aides were believed to be behind the idea of a breakaway Goa Congress Party, and Patkar was seen growing close to GFP chief Vijai Sardesai.Sardesai is now keen to join Congress as part of a grand opposition alliance against BJP, and the proposed Goa Congress Party appears to be grounded. This, political observers say, has left Patkar in a tight spot.Asked about Patkar, Dessai said: “We have decided to let the party leadership deal with Amit.”Congress Margao block convener Savio Coutinho alleged, “We have seen how people were intimidated in Sanquelim and other constituencies. Even our application to book the Lohia Maidan in Margao on Sunday was rejected on a fabricated pretext. That shows how far the powers that be can go.”
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