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GRAND ALLIANCE PIC: GPCC
SEEKS TIME TILL SEPT 30
* Luizinho seeks 3 months to decide as he says no political party is talking about alliance
* A clear picture on grand alliance involving Congress will be known only after September 30
* Says he wouldn\'t have approached independent MLAs and offered posts if he was against alliance
* The GPCC president says the party wants unity of like-minded people who believe in secularism
* Congress is eying to win the upcoming assembly election with majority seats, according to him
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PARTY IN DILEMMA
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Almost all the Congress blocks turned their backs to the idea of grand alliance in a meeting held in Panaji, with the exception of Valpoi Block which voiced the need for an alliance and expressed support to the idea.
In a survey conducted by The Goan over the weekend, as many as 15 blocks favoured the idea of ‘mahagathbandhan’ while another 15 left it to the party to decide. Seven blocks were of the firm opinion that anti-BJP forces should merge with the Congress.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Luizinho Faleiro however declared that the picture of a grand alliance for 2017 polls involving the Congress party will become clear only by September 30
Addressing the press after this meeting, Faleiro stated, “We would be able to tell you by September 30. I do not think any political party in Goa whether BJP, MGP or any other party is talking about alliance. They are saying give us three months. I am also saying give us three months. Give me month of July so that blocks could decide, give me August so that districts could decide and September so that Pradesh election Committee and Pradesh Congress Committee decide.”
“The blocks have given their honest opinion. They have expressed happiness that they have been taken into confidence over candidate selection for the first time in the history of Goa,” said Faleiro adding that the blocks have informed the party that they have candidates and that all names will be submitted to District Congress committees by July 31.
Of these, 36 stated that they have begun the process of listing their prospective candidates for the upcoming polls. Only Valpoi Block voiced the need for an alliance and expressed support to the demand of their MLA Vishwajit Rane.
Attempting to clarify his stand on the issue of alliance, GPCC president Faleiro further stated, “To say that Luizinho is against a grand alliance is a misconception. If I had been against allying with others, I would not have approached independent MLAs and would have never offered them the post of deputy leader of Opposition?
Speaking about unity among all Opposition forces, Faleiro cryptically said, “We want unity of like-minded people who believe in secularism. If I wanted to tell you that there will be alliance, then why should I call my partymen to seek their opinion?”
He said the Congress is eying not only a victory but to win the election with majority seats so as to prevent defections.
It was also informed that in the constituencies of Curtorim, Taleigao and Velim, which do not have Blocks, the party in-charge, observer and other senior leaders will decide the candidates.
Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Raoji Rane, former chief ministers Francisco Sardina and Ravi Naik, Subhash Shirodkar, M K Shaikh along with Quepem MLA Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavalekar and Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar and other chiefs of Congress frontal organizations were present at the meeting.
