the goan I network
MARGAO
Giving his stamp of approval for some of the candidates to contest the March 22 Zilla Panchayat polls on the party banner, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha on Sunday said the Congress should tie-up only with the MGP in the Zilla Panchayat election, adding that the party should not give tickets to those who did not work for the party in the recent elections, including the Lok Sabha polls.
He asserted that though the opposition parties in the State have all come together on issues of public interest, the Congress cannot have any tie-up with all the parties in the coming ZP election.
He, however, hastened to add that the Congress can have a truck with the MGP given that the regional party had helped the Congress and his candidature to win the 2019 South Goa Lok Sabha election. “The question of united opposition comes into play only in the Assembly. In Parliament, we also come together when it comes to public issue, but we cannot align with all the parties,” he said.
Saying that MGP can be an exception in areas where the Congress presence is little or negligible, Sardinha recalled that the MGP leadership and party workers had supported the Congress in the Lok Sabha election.
On selection of candidates, Sardinha made it clear that the party should not give tickets to those who did not work for the Congress in the elections. “I have told the party leaders to give tickets only to those who supported the party in the elections,” he said.
The South Goa MP said that the issue over the Curtorim party ticket has been amicably resolved, adding that the party leaders will soon announce the names of candidates after finalisation.
Meanwhile, Sardinha has extended his support for the candidature of Murtuza K for the Davorlim seat. A former Sarpanch of Rumdamol, Murtuza along with his supporters had called on the MP at his residence on Sunday seeking his supporters for his candidature. “Those who have supported the Congress party in the elections cannot be forgotten,” he said, while wishing Murtuza all the best in the elections.
