Wagh does volte face, supports Sonia
SANDESH PRABHUDESAI, PANAJI | 26 May 1999 12:29 ISTIn 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.
