the goan I network
MARGAO
Confusion over the candidature of the South Goa Lok Sabha seat has delayed the announcement of candidates by the Congress for the two seats in the State.
Even as sources said the name of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Chief Girish Chodankar has almost being okayed for the North Goa seat, the names of former three-time MP Francisco Sardinha and Mahila Congress Chief Pratima Coutinho have been shortlisted for the South Goa seat.
It is learnt that while Francisco Sardinha’s candidature was being proposed in certain quarters on the winability factor, her sustained work for the party over the last two years seemed to have catapulted Pratima as a strong contender for the South Goa seat.
Sources in the know said that the confusion over the candidate for the South Goa seat could not be cleared even after two rounds of meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) chaired by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and attended by senior party leaders including Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Goa Congress delegation comprised of AICC general secretary in-charge of Goa Dr Chella Kumar, Secretary Amit Deshmukh, GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar and CLP Leader Babu Kavlekar.
Party leaders were expecting the CEC to declare the candidate for the two Lok Sabha seats later tonight as the CEC was busy preoccupied with finalization of candidates of other states.
When contacted, CLP Leader Babu Kavlekar said the CEC meeting chaired by Congress president Rahul Gandhi discussed the candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats. “The CEC had two rounds of meeting to discuss and finalise the candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats. As far as the North Goa seat is concerned, there was not much discussion, but the CEC took into account the names of contenders for the South Goa seat’, Babu said, adding that they are expecting the CEC to announce the candidates later tonight.
