the goan I network
MARGAO
All eyes are focused on the Congress party as party leaders appear bracing up to face a rebellion in the party ranks post-finalisation of candidates and a tie-up with like-minded political parties.
No sooner news did the rounds in political circles that the Congress has in principle agreed to stitch an alliance with Goa Forward Party, the Fatorda block panel led by President Joseph Silva expressed their resentment over the reported decision. Joseph and other local Fatorda Congress leaders were in touch with AICC secretary Girish Chodankar and others to ascertain the factual position vis-à-vis the alliance with rival Goa Forward Party.
Since there’s been no love lost between the Fatorda block Congress and Goa Forward Party mentor, Vijai Sardesai, Joseph has called for an urgent meeting of Congressmen from the constituency late Tuesday night to take stock of the situation arising out of the decision to strike the Cong-GFP alliance and to chalk out the future course of action.
Joseph told The Goan that the Fatorda block members were in touch with the party leaders in both Goa and Delhi over the emerging situation. “If what we hear from news reports turns out to be true, than we the block members would like to make clear that our fight against Vijai Sardesai will not stop here, but the battle will continue in the Assembly election,” he warned.
Joseph and other block members had in the recent past threatened to quit en masse if the Congress leaders leave the Fatorda seat for the Goa Forward Party mentor. In fact, sources said the Fatorda block had released the chargesheet against the Independent MLA as part of a strategy to checkmate any move to enter into an alliance with the regional party.
Elsewhere in Salcete, anxious and prospective ticket aspirants were all virtually on the edge, trying to obtain information on the decision of the Central Election Commission on the candidates. While the Maria Rebello camp was upbeat in Benaulim, other ticket contenders including Benaulim block President Edwin Barretto were making frantic calls to the leaders to ascertain the status before they take a decision on their future.
The situation was no different in Cuncolim, where both the strong contenders for the ticket, former Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao and Clafacio Dias, are bracing up to contest the February 4 election with or without the Congress ticket. In fact, the two ticket contenders were on the field on Tuesday evening, campaigning in the constituency, indicating that they are bracing for the electoral battle irrespective of the decision of the CEC.
