the goan I network
MAPUSA
Former minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte on Wednesday alleged that a minister from Bardez was trying to do “settings” with Congress leaders and trying to field candidates to split minority votes.
He also said Mhadei was a very important issue to every Goenkar and people will speak out when they vote
on March 22.
“A prominent minister from Bardez is known to do settings and he’s trying the same in this election. He has been doing settings with the Congress…trying to put some candidates from minority community with an attempt to split minority votes. I think people have become smart enough to read between the lines,” Khaunte alleged while responding to a query whether the opposition will join hands to back the two independent candidates in Socorro and Penha-de-France.
Although he did not take the name of the minister, his reference was obvious as the only minister from Bardez is Ports Minister Michael Lobo.
The Porvorim MLA and Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar were present at Mapusa government complex during the filing of the nominations of the two candidates, Vaishali Satardekar and Kavita Gupesh Naik, for the Zilla Panchayat polls from Socorro and Penha-de-France constituencies respectively.
Interestingly, Congress was yet to announce candidates for the two seats even as Aam Aadmi Party has fielded a candidate in Socorro.
Continuing, Khuante said if no Congress candidates are fielded in the two constituencies then it will pass a message that the independent candidates are from a
joint opposition.
“Whether settings happen or not will be known in the announcement of the candidates by the Congress. If like-minded parties come together as a united opposition then the message is clear as far as Goa is concerned,” he said.
“If Congress does not field candidates in the two constituencies then it will show that the party wants to work on the formation of the government. If Congress fields candidates then the nexus between the two parties (Congress and BJP) will get exposed,” he added. He further said that people have seen through the settings and they won’t fall for divisive politics anymore.
The Goan made attempts to contact Ports Minister Michael Lobo but he refused to take calls or reply to messages sent to him.
The former revenue minister said that that the anger on Mhadei issue will be seen in the election result. “The anger is simmering within the people which will come out in terms of the voting pattern. Goans will not get trapped on divisive politics,” he said. Former housing minister and Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar said the government has failed to devolve power to the Zilla Panchayats.
“Election after election the government is only making use of the ele
cted ZP members for its own interest. They have failed to devolve powers to the ZPs as earmarked in the Constitution,” Salgaonkar said.
