MARGAO
Even as suspense continues in the Congress camp over the party candidate for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat, the party is witnessing a no-holds-barred battle for the ticket in the constituency.
Sources in the know informed that the groups supporting former Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar and Captain Viriato Fernandes seem to be leaving no stone unturned in support of their respective candidate.
A day after friends and well-wishers of Captain Viriato assembled at his residence on Easter Sunday to convey their Easter greetings and back his candidature for the Congress ticket for South Goa, Congress block presidents of some of the blocks from South Goa met at the South Goa district office to drum up support for Viriato’s candidature.
Sources informed that Congress South Goa District Congress chief Savio D’Silva was present in the District Congress office on Monday evening. It could not be confirmed whether the block presidents have signed any memorandum to be emailed to the party high command in support of Captain Viriato’s candidature.
Sources in the know informed that at least two block presidents, who are known supporters of the ex-GPCC president Girish Chodankar were conspicuous by their absence.
The sources in the party said that the sudden decision of the Congressmen, who are known supporters of Captain Viriato Fernandes, is an attempt to convey a message to the party high command to nominate the ex-naval officer for South Goa.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders in private pointed out that the Congress Central Election Committee had met last week and had taken a decision on the candidature for the two Goa Lok Sabha seats.
“The CEC had taken a clear decision in support of one candidate. We fail to understand why the party High Command is dilly-dallying in announcing the candidates and whether it has anything to do with reports to impose a candidate from above on the party rank and file,” remarked a senior Congress leader.
