Majority Congress workers in favour no alliance with partners

Panaji, Jan 24 (UNI) A majority of the Congress workers were in the favour of going it alone in the coming elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly scheduled to be held in May this year with the alliance partners declaring their own candidates much before the polls were officially announced in the state.

Most of them were piqued the way the an alliance partner NCP-led by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred De Souza had unanimously announced the candidates recently for contesting the Fatorda and Mapusa assembly constituencies.

Demanding breaking of alliances with the partners including the MGP, the Congress workers told UNI the party should fight the coming elections on its own.

They were participating in the marathon GPCC meeting presided by state party chief Ravi Naik. Power minister Digambar Kamat, Urban Development Minister Joquim Alemao, Civil Supply minister Babu Azgaonkar besides several legislators and members participated.

The meeting, however, did not adopt any formal resolution though it was moved by former Member of Parliament John Fernandes demanding breaking of the alliance saying it needed further discussion before taking a final decision.

Party observers believe that they would abide by the decision of the High Command in continuing the alliance with the coalition partners for the coming elections, particularly with the NCP.

On earlier occasions also, the GPCC leadership conveyed the feelings of the party workers to the High Command in this regard.

According to the understanding, the alliance with the partners had to continue till the end of this term in May.

The Congress has a strength of 16 in the 40-member house backed by NCP 2 and MGP and Independent one each.

The BJP had also an equal strength supported by the lone UGDP member who has no voting rights as he was contesting his disqualification in the High Court.

One of the BJP members Babu Azgaonkar recently resigned his membership from the House and joined the Congress to become a minister overnight.

Two other BJP members - Rajendra Arlekar and Dayanand Mandrekar - stand disqualified as the Supreme Court had recently upheld the High Court verdict challenged by them on the grounds of contesting the election while holding an office of profit.

UNI