oppn parties TMC Under Fire In Goa

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  • India beat Pakistan 3-2 in SAFF Championship. India defeated Pakistan in a closely contested match, having led 3-0 before conceding two late goals. The victory was reported as a significant result for India's second-string side
  • India beat Japan 4-1 to win a record sixth Asian Champions Trophy. India recovered from an early deficit to defeat Japan in the final at Mohali, extending its record as the tournament's most successful men's team
  • The Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre and the Election Commission on a petition challenging Section 16 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, which grants the CEC and Election Commissioners protection from legal proceedings for acts performed in their official duties. The petition argues that such blanket immunity could leave citizens without an effective remedy for alleged wrongdoing by the Commission
  • The Supreme Court told voters whose names were deleted from Delhi's draft electoral rolls not to be apprehensive about seeking re-enrolment through Form 6, after the Election Commission assured it that such applicants would not be prosecuted merely because their names had appeared in earlier rolls
  • Congress leader Rahul Gandhi opened the party's campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections with an Insaaf rally in Sangrur, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's home district, accusing the AAP government of failing to control drugs, gangster violence and corruption. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge outlined six commitments, including a drug-free Punjab, protection of farmers, employment for young people and action against corruption
  • Rahul Gandhi accused the AAP government of running Punjab through a remote control from Delhi and questioned Bhagwant Mann's ability to tackle drug abuse, making personal allegations about the Chief Minister's conduct during their time together in Parliament
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TMC Under Fire In Goa

By Linus Garg
First publised on 2021-12-26 14:49:39

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.

Five prominent Goan politicians, who had joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) a few months back, have left the party after alleging that it is trying to divide Goans along communal lines. This is a serious allegation and will tarnish the image and credibility of the TMC in the state ahead of the elections.

Former MLA Lavoo Mamledar, along with Ram Mandrekar, Kishor Parwar, Komal Parwar and Sujay Mallik all quit the TMC saying that the party and the company it has hired to manage its affairs in the state "have not understood Goa and Goans."

They also charged the party with trying to fool the people of the state by announcing a Griha Laxmi scheme whereby women head of families will receive Rs 5000 per month while its government in West Bengal has a similar scheme where only Rs 500 is paid per family. This, they alleged, was being done only to collect data of voters in the state. This issue has also dogged the party in Bengal where the BJP said that the TMC thinks "the price of women is cheaper in West Bengal".

They also alleged that the TMC was trying to divide Goans along communal lines by trying to ensure that the Hindu votes went to Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) of Sudin Dhavalikar while the Catholic votes went to the TMC.

These are serious allegations and since they have been made by new entrants to the party who are experienced and informed about the politics in the state, the TMC will have to take serious note and issue clarifications. Otherwise, it foray into the state will receive a setback as more local leaders will start thinking along these lines.

As the TMC does not have a base in Goa, it is trying to enroll local leaders from other parties, mainly the Congress. But if it is branded as a party that has little or no knowledge of state politics and is being driven by a private company, people will not take it seriously. This also shows how regional parties trying to spread their wings in other states have to be very careful and make proper analysis before making an attempt to move in.