MARGAO
Asserting that the Congress will win the 2022 Assembly elections sans alliance with other political parties, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha on Friday said the party rank and file is against any move to forge an alliance for the ensuing polls.
In fact, Sardinha went to the extent of saying that those leaders, who are batting for an alliance, are saying so as they are indebted to the leaders of these political parties. He, however, said only time will tell and the results of the election will show whether the party had taken the right or wrong decision on the question of an alliance.
Fielding questions on the issue of the alliance at the South Goa district office at his media briefing called to demand the dismissal of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in view of the allegations raised by former governor Satya Pal Malik, the senior Congress leader said he is of the firm view that the Congress does not need an alliance to win the election. “I am confident that the Congress will win 17-plus seats if the party goes alone in the coming election. This is the view of the party rank and file and I subscribe to this view”, he said.
Sardinha, however, said the party leadership will take a call on the matter, saying he is a loyal party soldier and will go by the party decision.
Even as he reminded that the very same people, who had betrayed the Congress in the past and had termed Congress as monkeys are coming for an alliance with the party, Sardinha said the people will not like an alliance with these parties.
“Let us go alone as usual. We had got 17 seats in 2017 and I am confident we will get more seats if we go alone”, he said, while asserting the Congress will be able to form the government without an alliance.
When asked to comment on reports that only those Congress leaders who will not contest the coming polls are opposed to an alliance, Sardinha shot back “those who want an alliance are those who are indebted to the leaders of these parties”.
He refused to name these leaders, saying he does not want to name anybody.
Meanwhile, the MP demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the wake of allegations of corruption levelled by former governor Satya Pal Mallik.
