the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar on Saturday alleged that the ruling party had misused the state machinery and power to pressurize its party candidates to withdraw from the poll fray. March 7 was the last date for withdrawal of candidature from the ZP polls.
Speaking at the Congress House, Chodankar stated, “Two of our ZP candidates from Sattari and one from Taleigao had to be shifted to safe houses as the BJP had been pressurising them to withdraw.”
The government abused its power to force our candidates to withdraw. They even picked up some BJP rebels from hospitals. We had to take all precautions possible to ensure the safety of our candidates.”
The GPCC President shouldered full responsibility of the party’s failure to ensure the filing of candidature in Sancoale ZP constituency.
“I take full responsibility as we couldn’t give an option to the people in Sancoale,” he said.
Congress announced that 21 candidates from North Goa and 17 from South Goa will contest on its party symbol at the ZP polls to be held on March 22. The party will support one independent candidate each from North and South districts. In the North, it has not identified any candidate to support in three seats namely Dhargal, Torshem and Karapur-Sarvan. Similarly, in the South, it is yet to decide its support to a candidate in Betki-Candola, Veling, Kavale, Borim, Dharbandora and Shiroda seats.
“We have put a lot of work in rebuilding the party and we hope to win both the ZP districts. When 80 per cent of Goa comes out to vote, all 50 ZP constituencies will feel Congress presence,” Chodankar said.
Congress has urged Goans to decide their vote based on issues such as the Mhadei water dispute, land-use plan at the panchayat level, the need for a full-fledged State Finance Commission and 73 rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments aimed at devolution of powers and
finances to the panchayat institutions.
