MAPUSA
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee, Vice President and ticket aspirant, Agnelo Fernandes on Monday accused Congress of indulging in wholesale trading as some of the local leaders were hell bent to give Michael Lobo entry into the party.
Fernandes also said that some influential lobbies were working overtime to finish the Congress in the State by taking BJP leaders and giving them an opportunity to contest on Congress ticket as part of the plan.
“Some of our local leaders have struck a deal and want to take Michael Lobo in the Congress without informing the high command. Election in-charge P Chidambaram had said wherever we have loyal and winnable candidates we do not require anyone and if at all anyone has to be taken in then the AICC permission is required,” Fernandes revealed.
The GPCC Vice President was reacting on the possibility of BJP leader, Michael Lobo joining Congress and contesting the assembly election from Calangute.
Fernandes also said that a lot of BJP leaders were aware that this time they cannot win the elections on the BJP ticket.
“So the plan is to contest on the Congress ticket, win and then rejoin the BJP with a 2/3rd majority. This is nothing but wholesale trading that is going on in our party,” he said.
He alleged that some local Congress leaders and some observers along with a national BJP leader were involved in this scheme.
“This scheme is of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Everyone knows that one of our leaders has met the union home minister. Shah knows that BJP cannot win. So he’s pushing BJP men into the Congress. Leaders imported from BJP will be fielded on Congress tickets in Saligao, Aldona and other places,” Fernandes alleged.
He said Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar had tipped him of Michael Lobo's entry into the Congress two days ago.
“When I confronted Chidambaram about Michael’s entry in the Congress, he expressed ignorance about the same. Chodankar who was present during the interaction then promptly denied the discussion of Michael’s entry with me,” he said.
The GPCC Vice President said that he will expose the local leaders who were involved in this wholesale trade.
