The anatomy of a resignation

Goa ministers and brothers Churchill Alemao and Joaquim Alemao Saturday submitted their resignations from the cabinet as also the Congress party, after Churchill's daughter was disqualified for one year from internal Youth Congress elections scheduled next week.

Churchill, the public works department (PWD) minister, and Joaquim, the urban development minister, submitted their resignations to the chief minister's secretariat.

"I, along with my brother, have resigned because my daughter (Valanka) was disqualified from the Youth Congress elections without any necessary reason," Churchill Alemao told reporters.

Valanka, 30, an aspiring politician, had been publicly endorsed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and the Alemaos and was one of the front runners in the Youth Congress polls. The elections were being conducted by Foundation for Advance Management of Elections (FAME), an NGO pursuing electoral reforms and floated by former chief election commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh. Youth Congress returning officer Sumit Khanna said that the disqualification followed after instructions from FAME.

Now the disqualification, we understand is as per rules. But why the drama? The Chief Minister himself has endorsed Valanka’s candidature during a public function at Margao, yet at the cost of plump port folios, why do two heavy weights resign over what seems as a trivial matter?

After some introspection the following appears to be the case:

For the last fourteen years or so, the post of the Youth Congress President is held by Pratima Coutinho. And Pratima herself has been supported by Churchill in the past. But now, if Pratima were to be reelected for yet another term, her husband’s chances of contesting for the Margao Assembly seat are increased.

And the Margao Assembly seat aspirant is the present Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. And if Digambar Kamat is to be reelected from Margao, he needs the support of the Alemao brothers desperately.

Moreover, with Narvekar as a possible threat for the Chief Minister’s post after the next elections, the support of the Alemao brothers is worth its weight in gold!

So is the present resignation drama enacted under the advise and blessings of Digambar Kamat?

In the past Kamat has been successful in working out miracles when there was threat to his chair and his government. And so it seems that he is willing to chance it again.

The AICC general secretary in charge of Goa, talking tough during his latest visit to Goa, had firmly conveyed that the MLAs and ministers need to deliver and that key portfolios should have fresh ministers.

But if the party leadership is considering accepting the resignations and cleaning up the stables, rather than finding itself under the constant threat of resignations in the run-up to the ensuing assembly elections, then these calculations might boomerang.

Only time will tell.