the goan I network
MARGAO
Former Chief Minister Ravi Naik has said the Congress can win the by-elections for the Shiroda and Mandrem seats if the party leaders do not repeat the Valpoi by-poll fiasco.
He also came out strongly in favour of the Congress forming the government, but made it clear that the party has not yet decided on the party leader who will head the government.
“What happened in the Valpoi by-election is there for all to see as the Congress leaders had hardly hit the campaign trail in support of the Congress candidate. This should not happen again. The Congress should put up an united face in both Shiroda and Mandrem if the party hopes to win the by-elections,” Ravi told The Goan on the sidelines of the SGPDA meeting here on Wednesday.
In the Valpoi by-election, Ravi’s son Roy was pitted against Heath Minister Vishwajit Rane, who had won the seat with a thumping majority on the BJP symbol.
Ravi, however, said he would not like to head the party’s campaign in Shiroda in the ensuing by-poll, saying all the party leaders, including the MLAs, should put their heart and soul into the party’s campaign. After Subhash Shirodkar’s resignation from the party, Ravi Naik remains the lone Congress MLA in Ponda taluka, which has as many as four Assembly seats. Both
Ravi Naik and Subhash Shirodkar hail from the Bhandari community and both have their own spheres of influence in Shiroda.
“Shirodkar has left the Congress and joined the BJP. But, I am confident that the party cadres have not switched over to the saffron brigade till date. The party should tap this advantage and put up an united face in Shiroda constituency,” he added.
Ravi replied a firm no when asked whether the party has zeroed in on a particular MLA or senior leader to head the Congress-led government in the event the coalition government crumbles under its own weight.
“The question as to who will head the Congress government is not yet decided. The party leadership will take a call on the issue,” he said, adding, “Right now, Babu Kavlekar heads the Congress Legislature Party and holds the post of Leader of the Opposition.”
To a question, he said the Congress should form the government in the State with the coalition government failing to deliver to the people.
“If the Congress can form the government now, the party should not delay in forming an alternate government,”
he said.
