PANJIM: The Congress has decided to field a candidate against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in whichever constituency he contests.
The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) that met on Tuesday evening resolved to field candidates against Parrikar and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane in the ensuing by-elections. While Rane, a former Congress MLA, is slated to re-contest from Valpoi, there is still no certainty from which seat Parrikar will contest.
Speaking to Herald, Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar said, “CLP had detailed discussions on the by-elections. From wherever Parrikar contests, we will field our candidate,” he said.
“Congress will not support anyone. We will have our own candidate. If someone is interested, he should join the party,” Kavlekar said responding to a question on whether the party will support former Congress MLA Atanasio Monserrate, who announced his plans to enter the fray against Parrikar.
Monserrate had contested the last Assembly elections from Panjim against BJP’s incumbent MLA Siddharth Kuncalienkar and lost.
The party has also decided to file three disqualification petitions against Rane for defying the party whip during the floor test on March 16. One will be by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), another by Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) and the third by CLP that will be filed immediately.
Congress also took a dig at BJP claiming that its MLAs are set to rebel as they are unhappy with the way Parrikar is functioning under pressure from coalition partners.
“There is unhappiness and resentment among BJP MLAs. They can rebel anytime. The way they are sidelined by Manohar Parrikar has upset them. Parrikar is out to please his coalition members,” Kavalekar said.
