PANAJI
Congress has begun the process of shortlisting candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls. The Congress Legislative Party on Tuesday discussed various names in an attempt to arrive at a consensus on the candidate, who would enjoy the support of ‘other parties’ and independents.
Speaking to The Goan, Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar stated, “We had a meeting of the CLP at the Assembly complex today where we discussed a list of names for party candidature at the Rajya Sabha polls. We have 16 MLAs and we will need four more MLAs to secure victory. We deliberated on the names from this aspect and tried to zero down on the candidate, who would secure the support of other parties and independents.”
Kavlekar informed that the CLP also chalked out a broad strategy for the two upcoming bypolls for Panaji and Valpoi. “We have already shortlisted the candidates for these polls and we are only waiting for the declaration of the polls to declare the names,” he stated.
Members of the CLP also raised objections to the delimitation of wards for the panchayat polls and alleged that several members of the ruling alliance have reserved certain wards to pacify their own supporters.
Kavlekar further disclosed that the Congress party and CLP plans to offer productive inputs for the finalization of the Coastal Zone Management Plan. “The MLAs, whose constituencies stand to be affected, have been asked to compile suggestions and inputs from their constituents. The party, on the other hand, will formulate an overall document containing the wider range of suggestions for the entire State vis-a-vis the CZMP,” he informed.
