the goan I network
MAPUSA
Admitting that reservation of seats carried out in a “bias” manner will affect the entire opposition, North Goa District Congress President Vijay Bhike on Friday said in spite of it Congress will overcome all hurdles and will give the ruling BJP a run for their money in the ensuing Zilla Panchayat elections.
He also disclosed receiving more than 45 applications from various Congress blocks in the constituencies of North Goa.
“It is an open secret that the BJP has carried out the exercise of reservation of seats for the ZP polls to tilt the balance on their side. They have been doing it all along during the civic and the panchayat elections too and will continue to do so. It will affect the opposition including the Congress calculations to a certain extent but we will live up to the challenge and emerge victorious,” Bhike said.
The North Goa District Congress President was addressing a news conference along with other members in the Congress office in Mapusa.
Continuing, Bhike said soon after the party took a decision to contest the ZP polls on party lines, the North Goa Congress began the process of identifying candidates from the grassroots level.
“We are overwhelmed with the kind of response we have received from our various Congress blocks. We have received more than 45 applications for the North Goa seats which clearly indicate people’s interest in the ‘Hand’ symbol,” he said.
“After scrutiny at our level, the applications will be forwarded to the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) to take a final call on the candidate. Preference will be given to active karyakartas,” Bhike said.
He further said that the party will contest in maximum constituencies except in a couple of seats where the party may decide to support a common candidate.
The North Goa District Congress chief disclosed receiving two applications for the Aldona seat – Ruby Halarnkar and Rakhi Halarnkar. It may be recalled BJP’s sitting candidate Gokuldas Halarnkar quit the party and joined the Congress a couple of months back.
With Aldona reserved for women OBC, Gokuldas’ wife Ruby Halarnkar has applied for the Congress candidate in the constituency. Bhike remained non-committal on his party’s stance in Tivim where BJP is facing a rebellion within the party as former BJP MLA, Kiran Kandolkar is planning to field his wife as the ZP candidate from Colvale.
“Although the Tivim MLA who got elected on Congress label quit and joined BJP, the block has stood steadfast. None of our block members have quit the party,”
Bhike said.
