Team Herald
PANJIM: With just two days left for the nomination process for the Rajya Sabha election to end, the Congress party is still undecided on its candidate for the July 21 poll.
The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting is scheduled on Monday to finalise the candidate for the Rajya Sabha election.
Former law commissioner Ramakant Khalap, former MP Ramakant Angle and senior leader Jeetendra Deshprabhu are the names being discussion.
The last date for filing the nominations is July 11.
CLP Chief Chandrakant Kavalekar said that the legislative wing will meet on Monday to finalise the candidate. “Though we don’t have the number, we are going to field the candidate,” he said.
Kavalekar on Sunday held meeting with AICC secretary and Goa desk in-charge Dr Chellakumar on the Rajya Sabha election.
Congress has only 16 MLAs as against ruling coalition of 20. The BJP-led coalition has fielded BJP state president Vinay tendulkar.
With an attempt to get support from non-BJP MLAs, Congress claimed that Goa Forward party leader Suraj Lotlikar is one name discussed.
However, GFP, which is an alliance partner in BJP government, turned down the claim stating ‘Lotlikar is a treasurer of GFP which has declared support to Vinay Tendulkar’.
“We condemn the dirty tricks being played to spread false news about GFP treasurer Suraj Lotlikar with regards to Rajya Sabha election,” the party said.
