PANJIM: In a bid to create a level playing field in the Panjim by-election, Congress, which will challenge Manohar Parrikar in the by-poll, said he should step down as Chief Minister and face the electorate as a BJP candidate. Congress also claimed that the Panjim by-election will see the defeat of yet another BJP Chief Minister.
Addressing media persons on Friday, All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Girish Chodankar expressed serious concern about the possibility of misuse of government machinery and position by Parrikar to influence Panjim voters.
“Parrikar going to the polls as Chief Minister of Goa will not give a level playing field. There is every possibility that he would misuse his office to influence the voters. He has already done it by announcing his candidature sitting in the ministerial block on Thursday afternoon,” Chodankar said.
He added, “We demand that Parrikar set up down as Chief Minister and go to the polls as BJP candidate. There needs to be a level playing field.”
The AICC leader said Parrikar can hand over the charge to some other minister till the time elections are held. Parrikar on Thursday announced his candidature from Panjim in the by-polls. Panjim has been Parrikar’s constituency for the last 25 years.
Congress is likely to field its rebel former MLA Atansio Monserrate against Parrikar. Monserrate lost the last election from Panjim by just over 1000 votes.
Chodankar also slammed the government’s decision to restrict media entry into the Ministerial block. He sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the matter, where the rights of the fourth pillar of the democracy – Media – are being scuttled.
