PANJIM: NCP MLA Churchill Alemao who recently held a meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and others regarding a possible pre-poll alliance with Congress, said the party is ready to contest elections alone if no such alliance is formed.
While addressing media on Friday, Alemao said a deadline of October 31 had been given to Congress to take decision on forming an alliance, failing which the party would go ahead with its plans of fielding candidates in 26 constituencies. He added that Pawar is leading such discussions that are presently underway at the ‘High Command’ level.
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He added that if there is an alliance, then NCP would demand a minimum ten seats.
Alemao added that he decided to head to Mumbai to expedite the matter as there is hardly any time before the elections and the party needs to tell the public about their political plans sooner rather than later.
When Alemao was quizzed about his daughter Valanka accompanying him for that meeting and if that meeting meant she would contest from Navelim on the NCP ticket, the Benaulim MLA was coy in his response.
He said that Valanka would definitely be contesting from Navelim but was willing to contest as an independent if no party offered her a ticket and expressed confidence in her chances of winning the seat. He also pointed out that technically she is still a member of Congress.
ALemao also claimed Congress has no candidate in Navelim now after former MLA Luizinho Faleiro has joined Trinamool Congress (TMC).
He also denied rumours that he has plans to join TMC but admitted that party leaders had met him but he was informed by them that TMC plans to contest the elections alone with no alliance. On that note, Alemao said he will contest on the NCP ticket only.
