PANJIM: The Congress
party on Wednesday expressed confident of winning 2017 assembly elections with
a thumping majority despite ‘dirty political game plan’ of ruling BJP by way of
supporting divisive Independent candidates in a bid to divide the secular
votes.
“There is
strong anti-BJP wave in the State. The people of Goa are ready to reject
communal forces that are making all efforts to destroy the secular and
harmonious nature of the State,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC)
president Luizinho Faleiro told media persons.
Faleiro said
that the Aam Aadmi party (AAP) along with few independent candidates and
regional parties are sponsored by BJP with the idea of splitting the secular
votes to gain backdoor entry to power.
“There are
dirty tricks being played by BJP by way of supporting independent candidates
directly or through some regional parties to divide Congress votes. Congress is facing this in many of its constituencies.
BJP has realized that they have lost their credibility,” he said.
“Irrespective
of all this, Congress is confident of forming the next State government on its
own strength. We accept thumping majority this election,” Faleiro said.
The GPCC president
and ex Chief Minister was speaking in presence of three other State Chief
Ministers cum candidates- Pratpasingh Rane, Ravi Naik and Digamber Kamat.
Reacting to
the allegation levied by Goa forward party that the GPCC president is
hand-in-gloves with BJP to retain them to power, Faleiro refuting such
‘baseless’ allegation said “the decision to contest in 37 seats was not of mine
individual but a collective decision of the party’.
“This
divisive regional force has fielded or backed candidate against me (Navelim),
in Velim, in Saligao, etc. What does this mean?” he countered.
“Unity is
the strength of Congress party and we don’t believe in setting. We are making
all out efforts to ouster BJP during this election,” Faleiro commented.
Faleiro said
that during their extensive election campaign and Padyatra, party saw the anger
amongst the people of Goa against the corrupt misrule of the BJP government.
“Five years ago, the BJP came to power with tall promise of Parivartan by
making Goa casino free, drugs free, recovery of Rs 35,000 crore mining loot,
zero-tolerance to corruption, scrapping of regional plan 2021, etc. However,
what we got in return was U-turns and empty promises,” he stated.
The party
president said that Congress in its election manifesto has made realistic
promises and assure to implement the same in toto.
During the
media briefing, while Rane led emphasis on health sector, Kamat focused on the
hurriedly approved outline development plans and non-completion of south goa
district hospital.
Ravi Naik on
the other hand questioned MGP leaders- Sudin Dhavalikar, Deepak Dhavalikar and
Lavoo Mamledar who were part of BJP government- over extending support to the
controversial amendments to Agricultural Tenancy and Mundkar Act. “And now MGP
promises to scarp those amendments. I want to know why they supported the
amendment on the Floor of the House. Why did they not oppose it?” he said. “MGP
is fooling people for votes,” he added.
BOX- GPCC
leaders has ‘fixing’ with Parrikar; alleges GF
While stating
that they are ready to extend support to Congress post election for government
formation, Goa Forward party on Wednesday accused GPCC leaders of having
‘fixing’ done with Manohar Parrikar to ensure BJP victory in the forthcoming
elections.
“GPCC leaders
have done fixing with Parrikar and betrayed people of Goa. Having alliance was
the sentiments of the people and not just of Goa forward. We respected people
sentiments but Congress betrayed them,” Goa Forward President Prabhakar Timble
said.
He said that
the party will win all four assembly seat it is contesting- Fatorda, Saligao,
Siolim and Velim. “No political party will get majority to form government. We
will support Congress post elections. We want to throw BJP out of power,” he
said.
As a political
analyst, Timble projects 13 seats for Congress, 11 to BJP, six to MGP-GSM-Shiv
Sena alliance, five independents, four Goa forward and one United Goans.
