PANAJI
After days of back-to-back meetings and growing friction with the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), the Congress is still struggling to seal a pre-poll alliance for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections. With just four days left before nominations close, the party has pushed the decision to the All India Congress Committee (AICC), whose Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare is expected to arrive on Friday to take a final call.
The Goa Pradesh Executive Committee (PEC) met on Thursday to deliberate on possible tie-ups with the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the RGP. The discussions came shortly after the RGP announced its first list of 12 candidates — including one in St Cruz, where Congress currently holds a sitting ZP seat. The Congress, meanwhile, is preparing to release its second list of candidates.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar confirmed ongoing negotiations with both GFP and RGP. “AICC Goa in-charge will take final call on alliance tomorrow (Friday),” he said.
Acknowledging the growing pressure from party workers and candidates amid the shrinking timeline, Patkar admitted that the delay has caused concern within the ranks.
He said that despite Congress having a strong organisational presence across all 40 Assembly constituencies and 50 ZP seats, the party is committed to exploring an alliance “in the interest of Goa.”
“This is the sentiment of the people of Goa. I am not getting joy to delay all this…I am getting sleepless nights…there is so much pressure from our workers…our candidates have to go on ground … hardly few days are left…but I am holding it only because of these people to come together …ultimately, we are facing the major damage here,” Patkar said.
He added that while each political outfit has its own priorities and ideology, Congress has made significant compromises to forge unity against the BJP. “We have taken two steps back despite being the oldest national party and the single largest opposition force. Till the last moment, I will continue efforts to bring everyone together. But if someone does not want to join hands, I cannot force them,” he remarked.
Patkar confirmed that seat-sharing discussions are underway, with GFP seeking two to three seats, while Congress awaits RGP’s counter-proposal. He clarified that the party’s first list of 11 candidates — announced earlier this week — covered only those constituencies where no alliance-related issues existed.
“We have avoided touching seats currently under discussion with potential allies, including the one where we have a sitting ZP member,” he said.
