'BJP will contest Goa elections on its own'

Panaji, Feb 4 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party will contest the upcoming Goa legislative assembly elections on its own and will not enter into any pre-poll alliances.

The Goa BJP is strong enough to contest the elections on its own, party's state unit chief Shripad Naik said while speaking to reporters here today.

However, Mr Naik said if the party had problems in finding the right candidates in certain constituencies, like the Catholics-dominated Salcette taluka in South Goa, the BJP could consider supporting an independent candidate with a good image.

''The immediate task before the Goa BJP is to mobilise party workers to go to the masses and win their confidence,'' Leader of Oposition and former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who was also present on the occasion, said.

The BJP has 16 legislators in the present 37-member House. One of its members, Babu Azgaonkar, had recently resigned and joined the Congress for a ministerial berth.

Two other members were disqualified for holding ''office of profit'' at the time of contesting the assembly elections. The lone UGDP member and former minister Mathanhy Saldanha, who has always supported the BJP, was also disqualified by the Speaker and his petition challenging the action is pending in court.

The Congress, on the other hand, has 16 members and is supported by two NCP members, one MGP member and an independent.

Mr Naik, earlier, announced a new 49-member state executive committee which includes five women. He also announced the names of 13 special invitees and 24 permanent invitees in this connection.

UNI