Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa Congress in-charge Digvijay Singh has stated that the party will contest all 40 seats in the State. He also stated that there was no proposal for an alliance so far, but if one was put forward, it would be decided in consultation with the Congress block and district committees.
Digvijay will hold talks with block- and district-level party workers for two days and prepare a “charge-sheet” against the BJP State government.
At a press conference on Wednesday, he criticised the BJP over national and local issues. He stated, “The economy is on the slide, corruption is growing and the BJP’s politics of polarisation is now visible. The JNU crisis is proof of the same. Even after having photographic evidence, the BJP MLA and the advocates are not being arrested.”
He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi by stating that governance was now centred at the PMO and the ministers had no power.
Regarding the GST bill, he said, “The Congress is ready to support the GST on three conditions: a maximum GST rate of 18 per cent should be provided for in the Act, 1 per cent additional tax of the present billed proposal has to be deleted, and higher representation to the state in the council has to be given.”
Digvijay further said that the South Goa Congress was holding meetings to select candidates for the elections and the block-level process would be initiated soon.
On the Congress’ plan for the election, he said, “We are preparing a charge-sheet against the BJP Goa government. The promise of removing casinos and being in hand-in-gloves with them, employment going down, corruption and nepotism increasing in every department and the mining closure will be the main issues.”
When asked if the Congress would form an alliance, he stated, “The Congress is preparing to contest in all 40 seats as presently there is no proposal for an alliance. If a proposal comes, we will consult the block- and district-level workers. Even when it comes to selection of the existing Congress MLAs, a discussion will be held with the workers.”
He added, “We will have a Congress panel at the CCP election. GPCC has asked Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar to select the panel.”
When asked why no action had been taken against Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho, he said “No one is scared of them; let them defy the whip. They will be taken care of; there is an anti-defection law.”
