PANJIM: Ahead of forthcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections, the Congress has decided not to allot tickets to candidates with criminal antecedents.
Addressing media persons on Monday, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar said the party has appointed Taluka-wise in-charge to screen and shortlist candidates for the ZP polls, which are fought on party lines.
“Congress has always maintained high moral ground in most cases while granting tickets for Assembly elections. We will maintain the same for ZP polls,” he said while responding to a question with regards to recent Supreme Court judgment, wherein it had pulled up the political parties for giving tickets to people with criminal background.
Chodankar claimed that the Congress will ensure that there is proper screening of candidates before granting tickets for the ZP polls.
The elections to 50 ZP seats are scheduled to be held on March 22.
The Congress president said the party has winnable candidates in 42-44 seats, while in rest places; the party will support any candidate who is capable of defeating BJP.
“Irrespective of which party he or she belongs to, if he has the capability to defeat BJP, we will support them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chodankar slammed the government for delaying the reservation process for the elections.
“The seat reservations have not been announced till now. This is only to ensure that opposition does not find the candidates in the last minute,” he said and added that ‘despite being in power with 27 MLAs, BJP is scared to go for ZP polls’.
Speaking on yet another issue, the Congress said the video of teenager admitting to consuming drugs exposes the fact that the narcotics have percolated in villages and schools.
“We have been claiming that the drugs have reached to the villages, but CM was in denial mode. Now this incident has happened next to his constituency. We want CM to intervene and take necessary action against those involved,” Chodankar demanded.
Alleging that drug is “family business” of BJP, Chodankar said that the narcotic is flourishing with blessings of the government.
