the goan I network
MAPUSA
Goa Forward Party supremo Vijai Sardesai said the party was ready for elections, but did not want to dump election on the people of Goa.
“Goa Forward is always forward. We are always ready and that is why, we are on the move. But we don’t want the elections. If someone wants it (mid-term election) they should have the guts to say we want it,” Sardesai said.
He said Goa Forward was not in favour of mid-term polls because fighting elections again and again were not conducive to a vibrant democracy.
“Why are we then given a five-year term? So that there is no repetition of code of conduct and harassment for people,” he said.
Hitting out at the opposition party, he said if the Congress wanted mid-term elections then they should say it openly.
“If Congress wants mid-term election, the way Girish Chodankar is making statements, he should say it. Goans can understand that tenor of the Congress and in which direction it is trying to steer the ship,” he said.
He alleged that Congress party office bearers were in the business of selling assembly tickets. “They have a season every five years. So they want to bring the season early this time,” he alleged.
Sardesai also said that most Congress MLAs were not in the mood of having mid-term poll. “I am in touch with Congress MLAs. They are our colleagues,” he said.
The TCP minister put the ball on the CM’s court when questioned whether it was right for the Speaker to hoist the tricolour when a constitutional government was in place.
“It is for the person who heads the constitution to take a call. I don’t head it. If he feels that the Speaker should hoist it, so be it,” he said.
When prodded on what was his conscience call on the issue, he said: “My conscience says that I should hoist the national flag where I have been elected and something to contribute to actually liberating Goa from several negativities which are there.”
