MARGAO
Ahead of the counting of votes on March 10, top Congress leaders from Karnataka called on Trinamool Congress MLA Churchill Alemao and Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai in a bid to ensure that the party forms the next government without any hassles.
While the Goa Forward chief is Congress’ alliance partner, the meeting with TMC leader and sitting MLA Churchill Alemao assumes significance and gives an indication that the Congress party is averse to dealing with other like-minded political parties in government formation.
Sources in the know informed that Karnataka State Congress president Shivakumar, who had arrived in the State on Tuesday, reportedly had a meeting with Churchill later in the night. The duo is believed to have discussed the political situation, with a focus on government formation.
While Churchill did not deny his meeting with Shivakumar, he, however, said he has conveyed to the Congress leader his views on the unfolding political situation.
Sources in the know informed that Churchill has reportedly sought to know whether the Congress has finalized the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). Churchill has already expressed his reservations in many quarters over the choice of Digambar Kamat for the post of Chief Minister.
Interestingly, sources informed that the Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai is believed to have impressed upon another group of Congress leaders the need to take all the like-minded parties and Independents together in government formation instead of going for a pick and choose approach.
He is reported to have told Congress that any pick and choose approach may leave other players antagonized and may not augur well for the next government when the BJP is expected to destabilize the dispensation from day one.
