In a move aimed at getting all anti-BJP forces together to defeat the ruling party in the 2017 Assembly election, UGDP leader Adv Radharao Gracias and Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday conceded that they have initiated the process of consultations amongst like-minded individuals to achieve the objective, with Radharao making it clear that it is for the Congress to decide if the party wants to reform and pay heed to the 2012 lesson when people of Goa rejected the old faces.
Radharao went a step forward and announced that voters of Panaji and Fatorda, while giving a clear mandate to Babush Monseratte and Vijai Sardesai in the civic polls, are clearly in favour of carrying forward the success in Panaji and Fatorda to other parts of the State.
Addressing a joint media conference on Friday, both Radharao and the Independent MLA admitted that they have been talking to all like-minded individuals on a united force, but added that they have not come to a stage to make any announcement.
“We have concluded that we have to come together. We were happy that the Congress was defeated in 2012, but the BJP has turned out to be a big failure. We now feel that there’s a need to bring a complete change in Goa. Hence we have been meeting in the last few days,” Radharao said.
Asked whether the Congress party will form part of the scheme of things, Radharao replied, “It is for the Congress to decide. We all want to defeat the BJP, but the Congress feels they will come back to power with the same old faces. The Congress was taught a lesson last time for giving the tickets to the same old faces. The message is clear for the Congress that the people will not support the party if they come back with the same old faces. If the Congress refuses to learn from this message, we are not going to commit suicide with them. In this situation, the people of Goa will come together to defeat both the BJP and the Congress. If the Congress reforms itself and does something, maybe the people will go with the party. It is for the Congress to take a call,” Radharao said, making it clear that the regional forces will not align with the Congress if the party fields the same old faces.
Replying to a question, Radharao said both Babush Monserrate and Vijai Sardesai have shown their strength in Panaji and Fatorda, adding “We can repeat the process in Goa. In fact, that’s what we are trying to do. And, I see no difficulty. Voters of Goa have told the duo to come together”.
Asked whether Babush will sever all ties with the BJP, he shot back, “Babush is clear that he will oppose the BJP. If he was with the BJP, he would not have taken on the might of the BJP. He is certainly not with the BJP."
To a question whether the UGDP will throw open its doors for Babush Monserrate, Radharao asked why should Babush not be with the UGDP when voters of the capital city have given him the mandate.
"Babush got elected on the UGDP banner in the past. We see no reason why he cannot return back to the party,” he said, adding that the GVP may not form a part of the new group in view of Mickky Pacheco’s alliance with the BJP.
Vijai Sardesai exuded confidence that the initiative to bring together anti-BJP forces will succeed. “We may not come under one nomenclature, but we can certainly come together to protect Goa and Goemkarponn,” Vijai said.
