Winning Goa was the key to ascending to power in the national capital and it was key for Congress to keep note of history when campaigning there, said former Union Finance Minister and AICC senior observer for the 2022 assembly elections P. Chidambaram. Chidambaram was speaking at the inauguration of a party election office in Panaji.
"Let me say one thing about history. Whoever wins Goa wins Delhi. In 2007 we won Goa, in 2009 we won Delhi. In 2012 we unfortunately lost Goa, in 2014 we lost Delhi. In 2017, you won Goa, but our legislators lost Goa and in 2019 we lost Delhi," said Chidambaram as quoted by the IANS agency.
He also asserted that Goa was not a 'colony' to be invaded and colonised by others, in a reference to rivals like the Trinamool Congress, BJP and Aam Admi Party.
The former minister said that it was crucial that Congress win the hearts and minds of people here between now and the elections as winning Goa in 2022 would see a Congress government at the head of the nation in 2024.
"Goa cannot become a political colony of any invader. Goa must be governed by Goans, Goa is of Goans by Goans and for Goans," he added.