PANAJI
After a prolonged lull, the Congress party appears to have finally got its act together. Virtually sounding the 2017 Assembly election bugle, All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Goa, Digvijay Singh, on Wednesday called upon all blocks to draw lists of prospective candidates for 40 constituencies.
The selection of Congress candidates is expected to conclude by August or September.
"The listing process will begin at the block level, and a list of names will be suggested to the respective district committees. These committees will then recommend the shortlisted names to GPCC for finalisation," stated Digvijay Singh while addressing a high-level executive committee meeting of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee held in Panaji on Wednesday.
While flagging off the party's internal electoral activities, the senior Congressman said the consultation process of candidates should be complete by August to September. “With eight sitting MLAs, there is a possibility of 32 new faces to be selected on the criteria of competency, image, winnability and loyalty to the party," Singh stated.
Referring to the recent rebellion staged by younger Congressmen, he stressed that the grand old party has always supported younger people. He said, "We have to balance the old and the young because if the sensitivity of Goan politics."
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Cong slams door on ‘tainted’
- Churchill told to come clean; party reaches out to Vijai
- Digvijay rules out grand alliance, eyes merger
PANAJI
Making the party stand clear, Congress executive committee slammed the door on tainted figures, with Digvijay Singh stating that "people carrying baggage of corruption" will not be considered for tickets.
"Active youngsters will be promoted. We will draw up the schedule soon," he said.
Responding to queries about the possible re-entry of Navelim-Benaulim strongman Churchill Alemao, Singh declared, "Churchill has been chargesheeted at the moment. He met me and I have asked him to ensure that the charges are settled in the court as soon as possible. Exoneration in the eye of law is a must."
It was revealed that the Congress has also extended a hand towards Fatorda independent MLA Vijay Sardesai and Goa Forward, asking the legislator to return to the Congress base camp.
"We have nothing against him. But I don't see a grand alliance of that kind happening," Singh said, hinting that the first opposition party is looking for merger rather than coalition at the moment.
On the backdrop of the entry of several Nationalist Congress Party leaders into Congress, it was also disclosed that the Congress has appealed to NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to consider merger so as to fight RSS and BJP. "Those who have gone away from Congress should return now," Singh expressed.
He came down heavily against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), labeling it as the 'B-team' of BJP.
"(Arvind) Kejriwal is a part of RSS's overall plan to scuttle the Congress vote-bank by dividing the secular vote, which cannot be touched by BJP. He is doing what the RSS wants him to do. Traditional Congress votes are being targeted by AAP," Singh alleged.
He further charged that "Kejriwal and (Narendra) Modi are two faces of the same coin".
The meeting was also addressed by GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro, former CM Digambar Kamat, Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Raoji Rane, Pramod Salgaokar and Babu Azgaokar among others.
Highlighting several issues, including that of the regional plan and medium of instruction, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat raised the slogan of 'BJP hatao and Goa Bachao'.
