from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Jul 25: Pale assembly constituency by-elections has developed chinks in Digamber Kamat-led coalition government with clear differences simmering between Congress and NCP in the state.

While NCP Goa chief Dr Wilfred D'Souza has already put his party's hat in the ring, the Congress leaders stuck to their guns contending that the seat would be contested by their party on Friday July 25.

The by-election is prompted after young Congress legislator Gurudas Gawas representing this constituency passed away due to illness last month. The election commission is yet to declare the dates for the polls although the ticket politics has already begun in the state.

NCP chief D'Souza was the first one to start the controversy on Thursday July 24 when he announced that his party is interested in contesting the sea. 

Emerging from the NCP executive meeting, Dr D'Souza told reporters that his party would contest the seat on its own.

The party leaders have decided to brief NCP boss Sharad Pawar over their decision to contest the seat, which will go against the coalition rules.

Goa is governed by Digamber Kamat-led coalition which has Congress, NCP, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and an independent Vishwajeet Rane as its partners.

Pale seat in North Goa has been swinging between MGP, BJP and Congress as the last election saw Gawas defeating sitting BJP legislator Dr Suresh Amonkar.

Independent legislator Vishwajeet Rane's influence in this constituency, which is neighbouring his own Valpoi constituency, is imminent. Congress will have to bank on Rane's support to get their candidate through there.

"The seat belongs to Congress and we would definitely contest it," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Fransisco Sardinha told reporter here on Friday.

He said that the sitting MLA, who passed away, last month, was belonging to Congress, the NCP will have to back out.

"I am sure Dr D'Souza (NCP chief) will canvass for Congress candidate along with Rane (Vishwajeet Rane)," Sardinha said.

The independent legislator, Rane, whose growing political influence over Sattari and Bicholim talukas, has made him an important figure in the state coalition, has, however, not spelt his moves.

"I will go with the Congress candidate…. Let them decide the candidate first," Rane said reacting to a question on Pale constituency last week.

He, however, refused to speak whether he is pressing for any of his favourite candidates for Pale seat.

"There is lot of development to be done in this constituency. We need a person who can execute it," Rane said.

Pale, a constituency in North Goa is predominantly a mining belt with improper infrastructure in place.

The win in Pale constituency is crucial for state's politics as currently Congress has 15 and BJP 14 legislators. An addition to BJP's tally might propel the party's move to destabilize the Kamat-led government.