Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
Report and pic from special correspondent

Panaji, Oct 3: Not leaving anything to chance, Congress in Goa has decided to join hands with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to fight the ensuing Lok Sabha by-election from South Goa constituency, which scheduled to be held on October 30.

The Congress executive committee meeting which was held on Tuesday at Panaji decided to initiate a dialogue with the NCP on the andidate issue.

The NCP earlier had threatened to put up its own candidate, if Congress took it for granted.

"It’s our duty to talk to NCP. They are our allies and we share pre-poll alliance with them for Goa state assembly polls,’’ Goa Pradesh Congress committee president Fransisco Sardinha said.

The crucial meeting, where the sentiments of Congress block-level leaders were heard, had Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat, home minister Ravi Naik and member of parliament Shantaram Naik occupying the dais.

The meet also discussed the political happenings in the state wherein Congress-led coalition government partner Save Goa Front (SGF) had attempted to throw the spanner into the works in Congress’ move to select the candidate.

Churchill Alemao, former Congressman and public works department minister in Kamat cabinet, had sought Lok Sabha ticket for his daughter, Valenka. The lawyer-daughter of Alemao was expected to join Congress and get the ticket.

According to Alemao, the party ticket to Valenka, was a pre-condition for his support to Digamber Kamat-led government which survived after Alemao extended his support.

"The Congress party is not bankrupt to have to get people from outside and give them ticket…. We are of the opinion that a senior congressman should be given a ticket," Sardinha told reporters.

He, however, refused to comment on the Alemao episode, stating that it is for the high command to decide on the issue.