PANAJI
With just 10 days left for the counting of votes, five Independent candidates who are confident of their victory are making moves to form a group.
The five Independent candidates -- Laxmikant Parsekar (Mandrem), Chandrakant Shetye (Bicholim), Savitri Kavlekar (Sanguem), Deepak Pauskar (Sanvordem) and Vijay Pai Khot (Canacona) are reportedly in touch with each other in an attempt to form a group in the event of their victory.
A personal assistant of an Independent candidate from South Goa confirmed the development. "We have to think of post-election scenario and accordingly form a strategy. Our leader has contacted some of the Independent candidates who are confident of their victory", he said.
Another Independent candidate also gave enough indications that such talks are going on.
Attempts to contact Parsekar did not bear fruit as his mobile was switched off.
Although no formal meeting among the five has taken place, sources have disclosed that all the five are of the opinion that they need to be united and support the party that gets the highest number of seats.
Sources also disclosed that the group of five is inclined towards the BJP as some of them feel that the saffron party will be in a good position to form the next government.
Meanwhile, as the counting day approaches, candidates are making a bee line to visit religious places.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recently visited Shirdi and other religious sites in Maharashtra.
Digambar Kamat travelled to Kolhapur while some other Catholic candidates have already made trips to Vailankanni.
