TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Ramakant Khalap, Senior Congressman who is among the three Lok Sabha ticket aspirants from North Goa, Thursday said he considers himself a winnable candidate with good and clean political image, and his party Congress, a winning party for the parliamentary polls.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a press briefing on Thursday, the former MP also claimed enormous support from most of the talukas in the north district.
“If you apply the winnability criteria, it is applicable to both ~ Congress party and myself. I have shown my interest (to contest LS) and people have supported me as they are certain about my win,” he said replying to a question.
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has recommended a list of names of probable candidates to contest the forthcoming LS seats from North and South Goa to its scrutiny committee chaired by Madhusudan Mistry. Khalap’s is among three names recommended for the North Goa seat.
According to the procedure, the scrutiny committee will further shortlist the names to submit before the party’s parliamentary board and Congress working committee which have the authority to finalise the names for contesting the LS elections.
Khalap mentioned that he has already toured 20 constituencies in the North. He said those employed with MPT, Goa Shipyard and a few BJP ‘friends’ have opined that he is a strong contender for the post.
Khalap, a former union minister, had last contested LS election in 1999.
“They have said I am the strong candidate for LS seat in North Goa but it is left to the party high command to decide as to who will contest… I have a strong hold over Sattari, Pernem, Bardez, Bicholim and Tiswadi,” he said.
Says AAP’s fate uncertain
While congratulating the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government in New Delhi, Khalap said the fate of the new political party is uncertain considering bickering among its leaders. “Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is my friend and he is a good person, well educated. But the party’s fate is uncertain…” he said when asked to comment on the party’s performance.
