VASCO
South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes has appealed to Goa Forward Party (GFP) president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai to actively join the Congress campaign for its candidate Dr Ketan Bhatikar in the upcoming Ponda bypoll, stressing the need for opposition unity to defeat the BJP.
Addressing the media, Fernandes said he had recently returned from Delhi after attending the extended Budget session and had begun campaigning door-to-door in Ponda. He expressed confidence in the Congress candidate’s prospects, stating that the response on the ground was strongly in Bhatikar’s favour.
“I was in Delhi for the extended Budget session and returned to campaign for our candidate Dr Ketan Bhatikar. The support he is receiving on the ground clearly indicates that he will win the Ponda by-election comfortably,” Fernandes said.
Referring to the strained relations between Congress and GFP, Fernandes described the recent exchanges between the two parties as “unfortunate” and called for reconciliation in the larger interest of the alliance.
Fernandes maintained that differences between the parties could be resolved through dialogue and should not come in the way of a united fight against the BJP.
“Misunderstandings can always be sorted out through proper channels. I appeal to GFP and its president Vijai Sardesai to set aside these differences and join the campaign in the larger interest of defeating the BJP and what he termed a failed government,” he added.
