Salcete equation changes: RGP to contest three seats

File photo of Opposition leaders holding hands at the SGPDA grounds on the eve of Diwali festivities displaying unity tunes.

MARGAO
The RGP factor (Revolutionary Goans Party) has come back to haunt the Congress in Salcete as the regional party has announced candidates for three out of the nine seats up for grabs in minority-dominated taluka.

This implies that the Congress will now have to also grapple with the Revolutionary Goans Party factor as well apart from the Aam Aadmi Party, which has not only decided to field candidates in almost all the nine Zilla Panchayats in Salcete, but have kick-started its campaign across the taluka.

Take note, the Congress, AAP and RGP will be vying for the same non-BJP space in the minority dominated taluka in the upcoming election.

The RGP has unveiled candidates for the seats of reserved seat Raia, besides the general category seats of Colva and Velim. In view of the development, questions are being asked in Congress circles and outside whether the RGP will also field candidates in the remaining six seats of Guirdolim, Curtorim, Nuvem, Benaulim, Navelim and Davorlim.

Take note, the regional party had put up a splendid performance in most of the Assembly constituencies of Salcete when the party made its electoral debut in the 2022 polls.

Incidentally, sources in the Congress party, favouring Congress-RGP alliance, informed that the RGP had assured Congress leaders that the regional party may not contest any of the seats at stake in minority Salcete as part of the alliance. However, with the alliance talks derailed due to the tug of war over Santa Cruz and other seats between the principal Opposition party and the regional party, questions are raised whether the RGP will field candidates in all the nine seats in Salcete.

As per the list of candidates declared by the RGP, the party has decided to field Antoneta Fernandes for the Raia seat reserved for ST women.

Similarly for the Velim seat, the party has declared the candidature of Daglee Fernandes. Take note, the Congress party has already finalised sitting Velim ZP member Julio Fernandes as party candidate.

The RGP has also announced party candidate Antony Roberts for the Colva seat.

Congress leaders, who had favoured an alliance with the RGP, are on the job to assess the fall out of the decision of the regional party on its poll prospects in the December 20 election. “Already, the Congress was gearing up to face AAP challenge in most seats in Salcete. Now, with the RGP in the fray, the principal Opposition party will have to contend with another factor,” admitted a senior Congress leader.

Standoff over Raia seat slows Congress–Goa Forward pact 

MARGAO: Even as the Revolutionary Goans Party has unveiled party candidates for the three seats of Raia, Velim and Colva, all eyes are focussed on the Goa Forward party as the alliance between the Congress and the regional party has not made much headway till date.

There seemed disagreement between the Congress and Goa Forward over the Raia seat, the lone seat claimed by the Goa Forward in Salcete. While the Goa Forward has already kicked off its campaign for the Raia seat, sources in the know pointed out that the Congress leadership is not willing to concede the seat to the regional party.

Initially, the Goa Forward had decided to contest in the two ST dominated seats of Raia and Davorlim, but, the regional party later concentrated its attention on Raia after the Davorlim seat was reserved for OBC.

If sources are to be believed, the Goa Forward is not ready to give up its claim over Raia, saying the party has also completed one round of campaigning in the constituency. Given the situation, sources said leaders of the Congress and Goa Forward were scheduled to discuss on Raia.