Team Herald
PANJIM: Congress on Wednesday announced its plans to contest the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections on party line. The party has decided to contest in approx 40 out of 50 constituencies on the party symbol.
Addressing media persons, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar said that the party’s executive committee reached a consensus after consulting its cadres and MLAs. “GPCC executive committee has unanimously resolved to contest ZP elections on party symbol. We will fight on party lines in around 40 constituencies, while in the remaining ten, we will support the like-minded anti-BJP force,” he said.
Chodankar said that he held individual interaction with party MLAs and addressed their concern with regards to contesting the elections on party lines. “CLP had earlier resolved not to contest the polls on party symbol as they were concerns about the party as a whole and not with their respective constituencies. I have addressed their concerns,” he said.
He added that the party would not contest in those ZP constituencies, where it does not have a “strong candidate” and is ready to hold talks for tie up with MGP in constituencies like Shiroda, Priol, Borim, etc, where Congress has no strong hold.
When asked whether the party will have alliance with parties like Goa Forward Party (GFP) with whom they have understanding on the floor of the House, Chodankar replied in the negative.
“The united opposition in the assembly is a different case. It is a part of floor coordination, as it is done even in Parliament. But as far as ZP election is concerned, we will not have an alliance with them,” he said adding we will be fielding our candidate in Saligao and Siolim; let Goa Forward extend their support to us .
“As far as we are concerned, the target is to defeat BJP in the ZP election. This is a first opportunity before the people of Goa to seek revenge from BJP for stealing their mandate given in 2017 assembly election,” Congress leader said.
Chodankar said that there is growing unrest within BJP cadre and amongst people and Congress wants to encash this opportunity. “ZP elections are going to be BJP’s worst defeat ahead of the next State Assembly election,” he added.
Meanwhile, the block presidents are directed to shortlist the candidates and submit the list to the district committees by Thursday evening. The District Committees will then scrutinize and forward it to the taluka team, who in-turn will place it before the Pradesh Congress Committee for ZP for the final decision.
“However, the finalization of the candidates depends upon availability of electoral roll, which has not been made available to political parties till now. We have asked the State election commission to provide the same by Thursday morning,” Chodankar added.
ZP elections will be held on March 22, while on the next day, the votes will be counted.
