Vijai vows course correction ahead of Zilla Panchayat polls
MARGAO
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai has admitted that he did not anticipate that the party’s decision to induct former Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes into the party would end up in a big uproar.
He assured that the regional party would not give a platform to defectors and would not give entry to any defectors in the party. “We did not anticipate that Isidore’s entry into the party would trigger uproar in political circles. Since I have done the mistake of admitting Isidore purely to ensure victory of party candidate Prashant Naik, I would like to assure the people of Goa that such mistakes will not be repeated,” he said, while categorically stating that the Goa Forward party will not offer a platform to the defectors in the future.
He, however, wondered how come a similar reaction against the BJP given that the party is ruling the State with 90 per cent defectors. “Many people pounced on the regional party over Isidore’s episode, but no one has ever questioned the BJP leadership for ruling the State with defectors,” he said.
On the issue of alliance to fight the upcoming ZP polls, Sardesai said the Congress has in-principle pointed out that the alliance will contest the ZP polls. “Discussions amongst the alliance partners is progressing. I had given them the formula where the Congress will contest 30 seats and the remaining 20 seats to be contested by the Goa Forward and Revolutionary Goans Party. Let us wait and see,” he added.
The Goa Forward chief pointed out that the BJP seemed not yet ready to contest the ZP polls as evident by the fact the ruling party is yet to unveil the names of party candidates. He also questioned the decision to make Raia reserved for ST women when the election notification had come and when the reservation issue was sub judice. “I smell a rat over the decision to reserve the Raia seat for women (ST) at the last minute,” he added.
