Panaji (Goa) While senior Congress leaders were busy in giving sound bytes and addressing press conferences, it is a team of young party workers which worked tirelessly to make Girish Chodankar give a decent fight to Manohar Parrikar in Panaji by-election.

Girish might have lost the election but the fight he gave is considered as important for the party which had lost its hopes before the polls. Babush Monserratte had deserted the party while their trump cards like Ashok Naik and advocate Surendra Desai did not work.

When Girish was declared as the candidates, it was considered as a cake walk for Parrikar who has been uncrowned king of this constituency for decades. But the systematic campaign launched by the young Congress leaders brought Girish in limelight.

Vasco-based Sankalp Amonkar who had lost the recent assembly election just with a whisker was in the team along with Janardhan Bhandari who has been one of the most loyal worker of the party. Bhandari had shot to limelight after he sought permission from Airport Authority of India to host his wedding reception as a symbolic protest against Amit Shah’s Rally at the airport.

Amarnath Panjikar, another young leader who has been always active in the organizational set up also toiled day in and out for Girish camping in Panaji.

One of the most important face of the campaign was singer and musician Siddhanath Buyao, a close friend of Girish. His video campaign and songs is considered to have made much impact in the social media. Siddhanath was associated with Congress during 2017 general election and his songs were amongst the factors that led Congress to be biggest party in the assembly.

Recently elected Goa Mahila Congress Committee President Pratima Coutinho was one of the most vociferous leader in the Girish’s group. She was seen walking door to door with Girish. She also had a brush with law and order on polling day when there was a verbal fight between BJP and Congress workers. Formal complaint was filed against her in Panaji police station.

AAP leader turned congresswoman Swati kerkar was also instrumental in going around with Girish along with minority community leader Urfal Mulla. Mulla has not managed to carve a niche for himself in the politics despite several attempts. But he did try to make up for the political loss by being with Girish.

Spokesman Yatish Naik who is having vast knowledge of the law was in the group planning strategies along with Sunil Kawathankar and Vijay Bhike. Bhike was Mapusa candidate of the party in last election.