TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: After days of negotiations, the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) and the Goa Vikas Party (GVP) on Tuesday announced an alliance to fight the coming assembly polls, but leaders of the two regional parties differed on the seat sharing arrangement.
While GVP supremo Mickky Pacheco said his party has given the UGDP three seats of Navelim, Cuncolim and Velim and asserted that the GVP would contest in 33 seats, UGDP General Secretary Anacleto Viegas said his party will contest in many other seats to retain the two leaves symbol. Viegas said efforts are on to set up a one to one fight against the Congress, but did not rule out friendly contests in some constituencies.
But, Mickky appeared firm that his GVP has finalized candidates in all 33 constituencies and would not compromise on these seats, including Cortalim, where the UGDP had reserved the seat for its leader Matanhy Saldanha. “There will be no re-think on the 33 seats we have finalised. Only the remaining three seats are open to negotiations with the UGDP”, he asserted.
UGDP leaders Dr Jorson Fernandes and Shravan Dubhashi tried to play down Mickky’s stand by saying the two parties would have another round of negotiations on seat sharing. Incidentally, UGDP ideologue Radharao Gracias was conspicuous by his absence at the media briefing.
Leaders of both the regional parties lashed out at the Congress for corruption and misrule, but were silent on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). When asked whether the regional alliance would support the BJP post-elections, Mickky shot back “Why support the BJP when we are capable of forming the government”.
Viegas appealed to smaller groups, non-governmental organizations and parties to join the alliance to get rid of the Congress from the state. “The organizational ability of the UGDP and Mickky’s popularity will keep the alliance in good stead”, he added.
Asked whether the alliance will have any alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Anacleto retorted “The lion today has become the tail of the Congress.”
GVP General Secretary Lyndon Monteiro said the alliance has still left the doors open for regional parties to come together and create a strong regional force
