PANJIM: After the dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly by-polls, Congress has decided to begin preparations for 2022 even as the Congress Legislative Party attempts to topple the BJP led government.
After chairing a joint meeting of its MLAs and party leaders, GPCC President Girish Chodankar said the party expressed gratitude to the voters for the South Goa Lok Sabha and Panjim by-poll constituencies for the victories. He pointed out that despite their defeat in three by-polls and the North Goa Lok Sabha seat, the Congress vote share has increased.
“This increase in votes includes not just the traditional Congress supporters but also others,” he added.
Stating that the party will begin preparations for the next elections to the Legislative Assembly, he said, “Soon there will be Assembly elections and therefore we will break the norm and be amongst the people. We will meet the people and discuss where we missed out and what needs to be done further for the Assembly elections. We will aim to get 26 seats in the Assembly elections.”
Responding to the party’s effort to topple the BJP-led government in the State, Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant (Babu) Kavalekar said, “As a political party we are entitled to make efforts to form the government. But we cannot discuss all the strategies before the media. How the government will be formed and who will support, you will come to know.”
Responding to speculation that some Congress MLAs are on the verge of joining the BJP, he said there are no more MLAs who vie for the BJP’s legislatorship and that they won’t fall prey to their offers.
Concurring with Kavalekar, Chodankar said, “We do not know who can be bought with money power or muscle power by the BJP. All the legislators have clearly stated that they are not interested in leaving the party.”
Meanwhile, Congress termed the unveiling of the portrait of Veer Savarkar in the ministers’ block in the Goa Assembly Complex an insult to the freedom fighters who fought for the Liberation of the State.
