PANJIM: Even as the pre-poll alliance between the Congress-
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Goa Forward failed, their grand alliance
between the grass-root workers was visible in Siolim-when united they extended
support to Goa Forward candidate Vinod Palyekar.
Congress siolim block President Zila Pednekar, North Goa
Congress district general secretary Michael D’Souza, Mahila Congress chief
Suchita Pednekar, NCP siolim block president Gokuldas Naik along with panch
members, sarpanch of five Panchayats, ex sarpanch, were amongst those who
extended their support to Palyekar candidature. The list also include BJP
worker from Anjuna Pushpa Dabolkar-who joined GF officially.
Addressing a joint press conference on Wednesday, Goa
Forward president Prabhakar Timble said that party is happy to see the grand
alliance of grass root workers to ouster BJP from Siolim. “We have managed to
get support from Congress and NCP block committees along with sarpanch and
panch members from various panchayats,” he said.
North Goa Congress district general secretary Michael
D’Souza said that the district committee is committed to work for Goa Forward
candidate to make Siolim Dayanand Mandrekar free. “Mandrekar is political
garbage that BJP has given to the people of Siolim. We need to clean this
garbage,” he said.
Mandrekar sitting MLA and Minister is once again in fray for
the ensuing state assembly election. “We have unanimously decided to support
Goa Forward candidate. Congress failed to have alliance and also has no
candidate of its own. We want BJP out of Siolim,” he said.
NCP siolim block president Gokuldas Naik said that the
workers were upset over failed alliance between Congress-NCP and GF. “We wanted
NCP to have a candidate but they did not field anyone. Hence, we block members
decided to support a good candidate like Palyekar,” he said.
