FATORDA: Prominent Fatorda Scheduled Tribe leader and an Independent candidate in the Fatorda constituency Agostinho Miranda on Monday withdrew in favour of Congress-Goa Forward Party candidate and sitting MLA Vijai Sardesai to avoid splitting of opposition votes that will help a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win.
“After much thought and consideration, I’ve come to the conclusion that my candidature would split the anti-BJP votes and favour BJP. This has to be avoided at all costs so I’ve decided to withdraw”, Agostinho said.
“I decided to contest as an independent when I found that there was no candidate from my community. I felt that the Fatorda constituency should be represented by ST candidate as there were a lot of ST voters in Fatorda. I approached the Trinamool Congress for the Fatorda ticket but I was snubbed by them” said Miranda, stating that they did not even know what the ST community was.
