Team Herald
PANJIM: Though it has not been able to oust BJP from Panjim since 1994, the Congress will again try its luck in the upcoming by-election, by fielding a candidate against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
AICC Secretary and Goa desk in-charge Dr Chellakumar said, “We will field our party candidate against Parrikar. We have some strong candidates. We will win the seat this time, taking our tally to 17 MLAs.” He, however, did not name any candidate.
In 2012 Cong had fielded Yatin Parekh against Parrikar, while Surendra Furtado had contested against Sidharth Kunkalienker in the Feb 2015 by-elections. Both had lost. Responding to a question on whether the party will promote Atanasio Monserrate as its candidate, Chellakumar said, “We will field our candidate, Cong will be in the battle field this time.”
In the 2017 polls, Cong had supported Monserrate, who had contested on a United Goan’s Party ticket and lost.Furtado, however, has expressed willingness to contest the by-elections. He said, “I am a Congressman. I will sit across with the Congress party and if they agree to my terms and conditions then I will think over it. Let us cross the bridge when it comes. There is still time.”
Reacting sharply to a question on his credentials as a Congressman, he said, “I am an executive member of the Congress party.”
AAP has also decided to contest all the by-polls. AAP leader Valmiki Naik said the party will decide on candidates once the election is declared. “But we are ready to contest as many constituencies as are going for by-polls”, he said. He said that he is willing to contest in Panjim against Parrikar. Naik had lost in the same constituency in Feb. “Parrikar is an uninvited guest in Goa. BJP is already exposed by taking Cong leaders in their party fold and people of Panjim are smart to understand what is BJP and Parrikar,” Naik said.
