MARGAO
Even as the BJP is bracing up to unveil its panel of candidates for the 25-member Margao Municipal Council, all eyes are focused on the much-talked about Goa Forward-Congress alliance to fight the ensuing Municipal polls in the wake of objection raised by South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha to the proposed alliance.
A day after Sardinha’s comments came as a big surprise to the Congress leadership, Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai said that he has nothing to say on the MP’s remarks on alliance, saying this is a question which needs to the answered by Leader of the Opposition, Digambar Kamat.
Kamat, on the other hand, said Sardinha is free to make any comment, but asserted that he along with Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco will all work together towards the defeat of the BJP in the election for the Margao Municipal Council.
“I have no comments to offer on Sardinha’s stand on the proposed alliance between Goa Forward and the Congress to unitedly fight the MMC elections. I want to make clear that the idea and proposal for an alliance between the two parties had come from the Opposition leader and I had only reciprocated taking into account the sentiments of the people of Goa,” Sardesai said.
The Goa Forward chief said that people of Goa want all the opposition parties to unite and defeat the BJP in the elections. “Against this background, I had supported the idea of alliance mooted by Kamat for the Margao Municipal Council. I have no problem if the Congress leaders do not want an alliance,” Sardesai said, adding the party will take the right decision on the fielding of candidates for the 25-member Margao civic body.
When The Goan contacted leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat to shed light on Sardinha’s statement, opposing any alliance between the Goa Forward and the Congress party for the ensuing MMC elections, the Margao MLA said he does not want to join issue with the party MP, saying Sardinha is free to offer his comments. He, however, said that all the three MLAs of Margao, Fatorda and Curtorim will work together to ensure that the BJP do not win the municipal polls.
Kamat’s statement has given clear indications that the party will go ahead with the proposed alliance with the Goa Forward to jointly fight the MMC polls. Of the 25 seats at stake, 11 each wards are falling in Margao and Fatorda constituency, with the remaining three seats falling in the neighbouring Assembly constituency of Curtorim.
Meanwhile, the BJP is all set to announce the list of 25 party candidates for the Margao Municipal elections on Friday. Party leadership will unveil the names of the candidates at the BJP South district office on Friday morning.
