MARGAO
The Congress has finally settled for Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress President Adv Pratima Betsy Coutinho as the Congress candidate for the by-election of Navelim Zilla Panchayat.
Announcing the decision, GPCC President Girish Chodankar on Sunday said the decision to field Pratima was taken in the interest of the Party, adding that he has accepted the nomination.
Pratima, when contacted, admitted that she had declined to contest the Navelim ZP by-poll, but has finally conceded to the requests of the party State and Central leadership as a party loyal soldier.
She said the people of Navelim will prove to all those who say that the Congress is finished and that the party is alive, notwithstanding that leaders elected on the party banner have left the party.
Girish said the entire Congress leadership and all the workers will work to ensure victory of Pratima in the by-poll. “We are confident that Congress candidate will win the Zilla Panchayat seat with a thumping majority,” he added.
Girish said the Mahila Congress president was initially reluctant to contest the ZP elections. He, however, said the party leadership discussed the matter with Pratima and she accepted the nomination purely in the interest of the party.
He said the Congress party is now in the process of strengthening the Booth Level Committees, adding ‘very soon we will build up the organisation at the State level. We are receiving tremendous response to our Digital Membership Drive’.
Pratima, who was moving around the Navelim ZP constituency on Sunday said that she was persuaded by the party State and Central leadership to take up the challenge by contesting the by-poll. “It is a fact that I had declined to accept the party nomination for the Navelim ZP seat, but the party leadership persuaded me to enter into the fray in the interest of the party,” she added.
Pratima will have to lock horns against two-time sitting ZP member Cipru Cardozo, who will be seeking re-election from Navelim.
