PANJIM: Asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is their biggest rival and with AAP not being in race for the polls, the Congress party on Saturday opened up the door for grand alliance with the political forces whose ultimate aim is to fight against the communalism, during the 2017 State assembly elections.
At the same time it shut doors for the former and present Congress leaders, who are being charge sheeted in various cases. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and Goa desk in-charge Digvijay Singh announced that party will field new faces in all those constituencies where it has no seating MLAs. The party has also decided not to declare chief ministerial candidate while going for polls.
Addressing media persons post chairing the co-ordination committee meeting, Singh said that BJP is their only and biggest rival with AAP not being in race for the upcoming polls. “AAP role in Goa is just to help BJP to form the government. AAP and BJP are working together at the national level on RSS strategy of Congress mukt (free) Bharat,” he said challenging both the parties to either accept or decline this very fact.
“Our fight is with the communal forces and if any party that wants to fight against communalism is welcome for the alliance,” the Congress senior leader commented giving green signal to the grand alliance.
Singh said that while the BJP-led state government’s charge sheet would be released by mid-September,
the party is also working on preparing report card of AAP government in Delhi. “Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi chief minister) is not what he appears to be. He is known for saying one thing and doing another. He is known for conducting fake opinion polls and publicising it,” he said adding that Kejriwal cabinet is marred with corruption.
When asked, the Goa desk in-charge said that party will not project any chief ministerial candidate while going for polls but the decision would be taken after coming to power by the Congress legislative wing.
Stating that Congress always encourages new faces, Singh said that for the coming polls, the party will introduce new faces where it has no seating MLAs. “In most places, where we don’t have seating MLA we will put new faces,” he said.
In the 40 member state assembly, Congress has only eight MLAs. “The views and opinions of the State party leaders would be given uttermost importance,” he stated.
Further Singh reiterated that whoever is been charge sheeted will not be given party ticket. He was responding to the question on whether Churchill Alemao and Monserrate would be entertained in the party. “There is charge sheet against Alemao …charge sheet and out on bail are two different issues,” he said.
