PANJIM: In exactly a year from now, Goa goes to polls. Political parties in the State have started prepping for the D-day and in one such measure, Congress announced yesterday its inclination to ally with anti-BJP parties in Goa to fight the elections.
Congress Goa President Girish Chodankar in a surprise announcement said, “Congress is open to parties that have the trust of people. We are open to ally with a party that has good intent and are against BJP. We are open to forming an alliance with AAP in Goa.”
As the political climate is picking up steam in the State in a run-up to polls, Congress announcing its willingness to ally with parties at this point might be a result of them coming to terms with the fact that their position in the State might be on the backfoot after 12 of their 17 MLAs joined hands with the BJP after the last assembly elections.
In the press conference held yesterday, Chodankar made it clear that to fight the BJP, they are willing to unite with any party that has made its stand against the BJP clear and one that will remain true to the people. In the same breath, Chodankar mentioned the possibility of allying with the AAP.
The AAP coming out to be an obvious choice for Congress to ally with in Goa might be because, in the last few months, the former has taken lead in calling out the current government for its inefficiencies and malpractices. Its improved performance in the Zilla Panchayat elections wherein they managed to double their vote share has offered another incentive to Congress to want to join hands with the AAP.
In response to Congress’s invitation, the AAP refused to ally with Congress. In a press conference conducted by AAP, its Goa Convenor Rahul Mhambre said, “While we refuse the invitation offered by Congress to ally for assembly elections, I want to thank the party
and its Goa President Girish Chodankar for making it abundantly clear to people that the AAP is anti-BJP. They have given us a certificate recognizing the AAP as the only party fighting the BJP everywhere – be it in the Lok Sabha, be it in Rajya Sabha, be it in the streets of Delhi, in other states, and especially in Goa where the AAP has become the only party taking on the BJP tooth and nail across issues.”
He added, “Congress can finally stop spreading the propaganda that the AAP is the BJP’s B-team now that the certificate has come directly from Congress Goa president. Now, they know that the AAP is the A-team against the BJP in Goa.”
Mhambre also went on to say that the AAP will not ally with any party that has previously been associated with the BJP.
Pointing out Congress’s weak hold over their MLAs, he said, “We can not join hands with the Congress whose MLAs have joined hands with the BJP to form the government. This is not the only instance where Congress MLAs have joined BJP. Nationally, 200 Congress MLAs have betrayed the people and joined the BJP to retain power. Goa wants a party that will promise them reliable candidates and good governance and instead of one that is corrupt and untrustworthy. The AAP promises to be the much-desired change in Goa.”
