Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Nov 15: A war of words has been unleashed between Congress and NCP leaders in Goa on the sidelines of the talks to have pre-poll alliance for the forthcoming Goa State Legislative Assembly elections.

Congress Goa spokesman Mauvin Godinho and NCP national observer Bharati Chawan were in a public spat even after All India Congress Committee Observer Jagmit Singh Brar asked his party men to exercise restrain.

Mauvin, addressing a press conference here on Monday November 14, said that NCP does not even have six winnable candidates.

“Congress is fighting for the share in a coalition from a position of strength,” he commented, adding that the party is capable to win majority on its own, without NCP.

He said that the NCP is bargaining for 12 seats although they don’t have 6 winnable candidates. “If they had 12 winnable candidates then they would have asked for 20 seats,” he commented.

Congress and NCP have held two rounds of co-alliance talks for forthcoming Goa elections.

“I wish that high command would respect the aspirations of local leadership who want to go on their own in the forthcoming polls,” he said.

Few hours after Congress press conference, NCP Observer Chawan issued a statement advising Mauvin to mind his own business. “Before making any statement Mauvin should look into his own ability to win”, she said.

Chawan in past had lodged a formal protest with Brar against Mauvin for making public statements which don’t go well with the coalition politics.

Congress and NCP is coalition partner in Goa government with Sharad Pawar-led party having three legislators, of whom two are minister in Digambar Kamat cabinet.