VALPOI
Rebellion over the declaration of the Congress candidate has now spread to Valpoi, with local party leaders slamming the party’s decision to nominate Manisha Usgaonkar in Valpoi constituency and alleging a “weak” candidate had been deliberately fielded to benefit the BJP at assembly elections.
Addressing a news conference in Valpoi, local party leaders Ranjit Rane, Roshan Desai and Abdul Gani have threatened to quit the party along with their supporters if the Congress party did not cancel the candidature of Usgaonkar within 24 hours.
Accusing senior party leaders of doing grave injustice to party workers in Valpoi constituency, they said the Congress had stood a good chance of winning in Valpoi but the decision to field Usgaonkar would ensure the defeat of the Congress at the election.
“Usgaonkar has recently joined the Congress party and her work in Valpoi constituency is nil.
Usgaonkar lives in Usgao and has virtually no influence in the remaining four panchayats and one municipality which are included in Valpoi constituency,” said Rane.
“As a result, the party will face a big defeat in the assembly election. The party has done grave injustice to party workers in Valpoi constituency. State party leaders have hatched a conspiracy to field a weak candidate and thereby, ensure BJP's victory in the assembly election.”
“We tried to discuss the matter with them but they could not justify the party’s decision to give the party ticket to Usgaonkar. We demand a change in the party candidate for Valpoi constituency within 24 hours, failing which many party workers will leave the party,” warned Rane.
North Goa Mahila Committee Vice President Roshan Desai said Usgaonkar was formerly an active member of BJP and had recently joined the Congress party.
