MARGAO
The State Executive Committee of the Goa Forward party is believed to have told party chief Vijai Sardesai that the party should ask the Congress to decide on the offer for an alliance to jointly fight the 2022 Assembly election within a specified time-frame.
The State Executive Committee meeting which took place at the Goemkar Ghor has also decided to strengthen the party in around 11 Assembly constituencies. The meeting has set June 30 as the deadline for the constitution of the booths in the Assembly constituencies.
Chaired by the Party Chief Vijai Sardesai and attended by party working President Kiran Khandolkar and other party leaders, the meeting discussed the prevailing political situation in the State given that Goa is heading for the Assembly polls in around 7-8 months time.
On the question of alliance with like-minded parties, the State executive is believed to have discussed the matter over the alliance offer made to the Congress by the party chief. Sources said no official reply has come from the Congress to the alliance offer and that Goa Forward chief is reportedly in touch with the Delhi party leadership.
Given that there’s been no formal reply from the Congress, a section of the party leaders are of the firm opinion that the regional party should set a time-frame for Congress to take a call on the offer.
In this respect, the party leadership has decided to wait for the Congress till mid-June since the party expects some Congress leaders to arrive in the State.
Asked to comment on the outcome of the State Executive Committee meeting, Sardesai said the party has decided to strengthen the organization at the booth level.
Asked on the number of seats the Goa Forward is eyeing to contest in the 2022 Assembly polls, Sardesai said the party so far zeroed in on around 11 seats in both North and South Goa.
On the alliance with the Congress, he said the party State executive is of the opinion that the party should give the Congress time to decide on the question of aligning with like-minded parties, including Goa Forward to fight the 2022 Assembly to keep the BJP at bay. “We hope the Congress leadership will also deliberate on the question of alliance with like-minded parties. There are some positive signals coming from Delhi. But, we are awaiting formal discussions with the main opposition party”, he added.
