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CONG CHARGE SHEET
TO CORNER GOA GOVT
* Congress will soon prepare a charge sheet against the BJP government, for its failure to fulfil the election promises
* Digvijai says, the govt has failed to stop casinos; mining has not started and employment scenario is bleak
* Congress is gearing up to fight the forces of communalism, corruption and nepotism in Goa, says Digvijai
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DIGVIJAI ON LUIZINHO
LEADING 2017 POLLS
* The question is too hypothetical
ON PARTY CANDIDATES
* Decisions will be taken in consultation with all committees
ON MAUVIN GODINHO
* Let them defy the whip and face the music under the anti-Defection Act
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As it stands today, we are preparing to contest all the 40 seats
- Digvijai Singh, AICC Gen Secy
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MARGAO: Asserting that there’s neither a proposal nor any offer from MLA Vijai Sardesai for any alliance with the Congress to the coming election, AICC general secretary in-charge of Goa desk, Digvijai Singh on Wednesday said that the Congress was preparing to contest all the 40 Assembly seats in the state.
“As it stands today, we are preparing to contest all the 40 seats. There is no proposal for an alliance as such from any political party. As and when such a proposal comes, we will consult the Congress committees at the grass root, district committee and the state committee to take a view on that,” Digvijai said, while addressing the media at the Congress district house here on Wednesday evening.
When the media pointed out there’s strong opposition for an alliance with Vijai Sardessai from the Fatorda block Congress, Digvijai said the Congress party does not align with any individual. But, when questioned whether the Congress will align with Vijai’s political party, he shot back “the question is that the offer has to come from somewhere. Then the Congress will take a view. At the moment, neither there is a proposal nor an offer from any quarter and we are preparing for all the 40 seats,” adding that the party leadership will take into account if the local Fatorda block is strongly oppose to alliance with the Independent MLA.
On the resignation tendered by GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro with a request to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to relieve him from the responsibility, Digvijai quipped “Faleiro is very much sitting here. If he was not the party president, he would not have been sitting here””.
Asked whether any replacement for Faleiro is in the offing, the AICC general secretary said “at the moment, Faleiro is sitting right in front of you. He is the GPCC president”. But, when asked to commnet on a question whether Faleiro would lead the party in the 2017 Assembly election, Digvijai said the question is too hypothetical.
Asked to comment on the shortlisting of party candidates for the coming poll, he said all decisions will be taken in consultation with the Block Committee, district Committee and the Pradesh Committee. When asked whether the current lot of MLAs will be re-nominated by the party, he again repeated that all decisions will be taken after the recommendation of the block Congress and district Committee.
Asked whether the Congress leadership is scared to initiate action against MLAs such as Mauvin Godinho for anti-party activities, Digvijai shot back “The Congress party is not scared to take action against anyone. But, why give them a lease of life. Let them vote against the whip. Let them defy the whip and face the music under the anti-Defection Act”.
Asked to outline on the percentage of tickets that would be given to the new faces in the coming election, he said the party does not believe in percentages. But, when pointed out that the GPCC chief had been repeatedly saying that 50 per cent of the tickets will be given to the new faces, he quipped “Let the GPCC chief make the recommendation”.
The AICC general secretary is in Goa to have meetings of the block committees from both North and South Goa district in preparation for the coming poll. He is expected to do a similar exercise in North Goa on Thursday.
Digvijai said the party will soon prepare a charge sheet against the BJP government, for its failure to fulfil the election promises. “They have failed to stop the casinos. Mining have not started in the state. The employment scenario is bleak. Revenue has dipped further down. There’s corruption and nepotism in every department”’, he asserted., adding that the Congress is gearing up to fight the forces of communalism, corruption and nepotism in Goa.
