Panaji, Mar 14 (TOI): Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar on Wednesday said that the party had a strategic reason for not declaring their candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats and for the three constituencies where byelections are going to be held on April 23. Chodankar also questioned the BJP for the delay in announcing its candidates.
“Our candidates and everything is ready, but we are not declaring it because of strategic reasons. We don’t know what kind of elections it will be. Will it be byelections or dissolution? Nobody knows and you can’t predict anything,” Chodankar said, while speaking to TOI.
Congress is expected to declare their Lok Sabha candidates by the end of this week, but consensus appears to be growing around Chodankar as the North Goa Congress candidate. The South Goa ticket could go to former CM Francisco Sardinha, Mahila Congress president Pratima Coutinho or advocate Cleofato Almeida Coutinho.
“When the ruling party cannot declare, why should we? This is a chess board and every move has to be anticipated,” Chodankar said.
According to the state Congress president, the chances of the legislative assembly being dissolved remained alive along with the possibility of Goa governor Mridula Sinha recommending the assembly be kept in suspended animation.
“There is a fear of dissolution, there is a fear of suspended animation. Parrikar can do anything and I don’t think any allies have the guts to question him. Even the BJP cannot,” Chodankar said.
Chodankar felt that the delay in announcing the BJP candidates for the North Goa and South Goa Parliament seats; and the Mandrem, Mapusa and Shiroda constituencies indicated that trouble was brewing in the BJP camp.
“They should have declared their candidates (for the bypolls). They have taken our MLAs, purchased them. What was their problem to declare their names?” Chodankar said. “Our candidates for Parliament seats are ready. BJP has two sitting MPs, why have they not declared? The sitting MLAs are with them and they have not declared. But people question only us.”