Sonia, Pawar may launch joint campaign in Goa

Panaji, May 11: All India Congress Committee President Sonia Gandhi and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar are likely to launch a joint campaign for the June 2 Goa elections if everything goes well with the alliance.

Senior Congress sources told sources here today that the two coalition partners may release a ''joint manifesto''. The Congress had forwarded a copy of the manifesto to the NCP leadership for its observation so that it could be released at the earliest. The manifesto reflects the aspirations of each and every section of the society in Goa, the sources added.

The Congress has so far left six seats for the NCP which however, has demanded 10 seats.

The Congress will release its final list of 12 nominees in a day or two, AICC general secretary in charge of Goa Margaret Alva, meanwhile, informed while speaking to reporters here today.

She said the party was confident of winning a majority of the seats and forming the government on its own.

To a question as to why Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane's name did not figure in the first or second list of nominees announced recently, she said it was at Mr Rane's own request. Mr Rane and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Ravi Naik were also present at the press conference.

Ms Alva said it was for the people to decide which party to vote without being influenced by the Church or other religious groups.

Apart from Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Rahul Gandhi too are expected to address election meetings in Goa.

UNI