MARGAO
With Municipal elections round the corner, Margao MLA and Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat on Friday did not rule out any tie-ups or alliances with other like-minded parties, including Goa Forward, to keep the BJP at bay, but made it clear that any decision on alliances will be taken in consultation with the party high Command and will be implemented across the state.
Kamat further said his son Yogiraj is free to decide whether he wants to take a plunge in the ensuing municipal polls. “If the workers and people want him to contest the election, he is free to do so,” he added.
Admitting that he would field a panel in the Margao area of the Margao Municipal Council, Kamat said the question over Fatorda area will be answered after consultations with party leaders. “I am not ruling out anything that would happen in the run-up to the municipal polls. Our party desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao had only said last time told us not to talk about alliances, but to concentrate on strengthening the party. If the Congress decides to enter into an alliance with other like-minded parties, it will be not just for Margao, but entire Goa,” he told the media on Friday, when asked whether he would have an alliance with the Goa Forward to fight the MMC polls.
To a question, Kamat said he and his workers are ready not only to face the ensuing civic polls, but also the Assembly. “A political party should be ready to face elections at any time. I and my workers are geared up even if the Assembly polls are held in the near future,” he added.
On selection of candidates, the Margao MLA said performance, not age, will be the sole criteria to finalise candidates to contest the MMC polls.
He declined to comment on the decision of former minister late Babu Naik’s grandson’s decision to join the BJP. “I don’t want to comment on individual persons. Every person has the right to contest an election,” he said.
The Margao MLA placed before the people the development works carried out by him in Margao and works that are in the pipeline. While thanking Madgaokars for electing him to represent them in the Assembly for the last 27 years, Kamat said he has taken up a host of works estimated to run into crores to put the infrastructure in place in respect of power, sewerage, water supply, roads, illumination, etc.
