PANAJI
After prolonged delays and amid ongoing seat-sharing negotiations with the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), the Congress on Tuesday released its first list of 11 candidates for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections. The move, however, triggered strong resentment within the RGP, as Congress failed to take them into confidence despite alliance discussions still being in progress.
As per the list, in North Goa, the Congress has fielded Carmelina Angela Fernandes from Calangute (Women), Sahil Mandrekar from Socorro (General), Sonal Malvankar from Reis Magos (Women), Viju Diukar from Taleigao (ST), Adv. Shejal Kalangutkar from Chimbel (Women), Bhanudas Datta Somnaik from Pale (OBC) and Ayush Sitaram Kerkar from Querim (SC).
For South Goa, the party has announced four names: Manisha Usgaonkar from Usgao-Ganje (Women), Julio Fernandes from Velim (General), Alexinho Da Silva from Curtorim (OBC) and Rajendra Shirodkar from Sanvordem (ST).
GPCC Chief Amit Patkar said that the list covers only those constituencies where there were no disputes or ongoing seat-sharing negotiations with potential alliance partners. “We have released names of only those candidates where there are no disputes. Our alliance seats are not been touched,” he said.
However, RGP has termed the move as shocking and unilateral. RGP Chief Manoj Parab said that the Congress’ decision to release the list without consulting them has come as a complete shock. He said the two parties had been engaged in alliance talks, and RGP was given to understand that a joint press conference would be held to announce candidates.
“It is shocking news. The first list has been released without informing us. This undermines the trust in the alliance,” Parab said, adding that the party placed certain conditions before the Congress and discussions were still underway.
Parab accused Congress of taking decisions “behind RGP’s back”, calling it a “betrayal” of alliance understanding. The RGP leader said his party had refrained from releasing its own list out of respect for alliance dharma.
“We honoured alliance discipline, but Congress did not. We have remained silent and not announced our list because talks were still on. Our people were already upset that we agreed to an alliance and gave away some seats, but we convinced them it was for the interest of the State,” he said, adding that the seat-sharing formula was being discussed based on winnability.
Parab said that RGP had only one major demand that not to ally with parties that had accepted defectors into their fold.
