Goa Congress to go alone in assembly polls next year

Panaji, May 19 (UNI) Goa Congress president Ravi Naik today alleged that due to his party's coalition partners -- Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) -- taking 'unilateral' decisions to contest the May 2007 assembly elections on their own, the party had no option but to go alone.

Briefing mediapersons, Mr Naik however said the final decision is subject to the approval of the party high command.

The coalition will continue till the end of the term of the House despite differences, the Congress leader said.

Mr Naik alleged party workers were ''fed up'' with the coalition partners who were taking their own decisions. The MGP had recently announced it would contest from 24 assembly segments without taking Congress into confidance, while the NCP declared to contest from Fatorda, charged GPCC president.

The Congress has a strength of 18 in the 40-member House backed by NCP two and one of the MGP and an Independent.

The BJP has a strength of 15.

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