[ad_1]
PTI
New Delhi, January 30
Senior Congress chief P Chidambaram on Sunday stated an alliance couldn’t be solid between his social gathering and the NCP-Shiv Sena for the Goa Assembly polls regardless of finest efforts however asserted that they “will remain friends” and after the elections, the Congress would proceed to discover alternatives to “work together” with them.
Chidambaram, who’s the Congress’ senior election observer for the Goa Assembly polls, additionally hit out on the TMC for its barbs on the Congress for not forging an alliance with it, saying the social gathering continued to poach Congress leaders, regardless of making a proposal of a tie-up.
The senior Congress chief stated he obtained no directions from the social gathering management to carry talks with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and added that, “I am sure our leadership had taken into account all the facts and circumstances”.
In an interview with PTI, Chidambaram stated whether or not the social gathering would announce a chief ministerial identify earlier than or after the elections could be determined after consulting all of the candidates and the social gathering would go by the consensus amongst them.
He additionally asserted that the competition within the Goa polls is “between the Congress (plus Goa Forward Party) and the BJP and we will be able to win a simple majority”.
Asked why the Congress was not in a position to tie up with different Opposition events particularly the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Shiv Sena, Chidambaram stated the NCP and Shiv Sena are the Congress’ allies in Maharashtra and it will have appreciated them to be allies in Goa as effectively.
“We tried.They made certain proposals.We made certain proposals. Unfortunately, there was no meeting point. I acknowledge that both sides had compulsions and despite our best efforts we could not find a meeting point,” Chidambaram stated.
“Nevertheless, we are friends and will remain friends. After the elections, we will continue to explore opportunities to work together with NCP and Shiv Sena,” he stated.
After the 2019 Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena, which until then allied with the BJP, joined fingers with the NCP and the Congress, to type a authorities, which was given the identify Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Shiv Sena and the NCP had earlier this month introduced that they might contest the Goa elections collectively.
Asked in regards to the TMC’s barbs on the Congress over not forging a tie-up with it, Chidambaram stated he’s not in a position to perceive the TMC’s place.
“They entered Goa a few months ago and my distinguished friend, Mamata ji, declared in Goa that TMC had formed an alliance and any other party was welcome to join their alliance. The General Secretary of TMC declared that TMC will contest all 40 seats. Then, they lured Mr Luizinho Faleiro, Congress MLA, to the TMC,” Chidambaram stated.
The Congress introduced its first listing of candidates on December 16, together with the identify of Reginald Laurenco, sitting MLA, and 4 days later, on December 20, Laurenco was admitted to the TMC, he stated, detailing the sequence of occasions.
“On December 24, TMC’s Vice President met me and suggested that the two parties should work together in Goa. I agreed to convey the suggestion to our leadership, and I promptly did,” he stated.
However, the TMC continued to poach our leaders, sarpanches, panches, and many others., for instance in Vasco and Marmugao, he stated.
“I received no instructions from our leadership to hold talks with TMC. I am sure our leadership had taken into account all the facts and circumstances. As far as I was concerned, the matter rested there,” Chidambaram stated.
On the Congress MLAs switching to BJP within the present meeting and what measures the social gathering was taking to forestall a repeat, the Congress’ Goa polls in-charge stated “loyalty” is the “top priority” for the social gathering.
The most necessary measure — which has been carried out in 30 constituencies — is that candidates beneficial by the Block have been chosen to contest the elections, he stated.
“Blocks were asked to place loyalty as the top criterion. Next, the candidates spontaneously offered to take a pledge before a Temple, a Church and a Dargah. I think such a pledge has removed any lingering doubt about the loyalty of our candidates to the Congress Party and to the voters who will vote them to office,” Chidambaram stated.
Ahead of the elections, the candidates of the Congress, which was hit hardest by defections within the BJP-ruled state within the final 5 years, have taken an ‘anti-defection pledge’ earlier than a temple, church in addition to a dargah.
Asked if the social gathering would announce a CM face earlier than polls, Chidambaram identified that he has acknowledged that whether or not “we should announce a CM name before or after the elections will be decided after consulting all the candidates”.
“We intend to do that. We will go by the consensus among the candidates,” he stated.
On whether or not the Congress could be open to a publish ballot alliance, Chidambaram stated the competition was between the Congress (+GFP) and the BJP and exuded confidence that his social gathering’s alliance will have the ability to win a easy majority.
He stated that publish elections, if different events are prepared to assist a Congress-led authorities, the Congress would take a name relying on the circumstances.
Chidambaram stated the suggestions from the bottom is “positive” and expressed confidence that the Congress’ alliance would do effectively because the “anti-BJP sentiment” is gathering tempo on a regular basis.
After struggling BJP’s “misrule” for 10 years, the folks of Goa desire a non-BJP authorities, he stated.
Assembly polls for all 40 seats in Goa will likely be held on February 14.
In the 2017 Goa Assembly elections, the Congress had gained 17 seats within the House and emerged as the one largest social gathering. But, the BJP, which had bagged 13 seats, shortly tied-up with some regional events and independents to type the federal government within the state.
[ad_2]