Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: After initial hiccups, Congress has finally announced a pre-poll alliance with the Goa Forward Party for the upcoming elections scheduled for February 2022.
Addressing the press conference, AICC Goa desk incharge Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Indian National Congress has entered into a pre-poll alliance with the Goa Forward Party.
“We have officially entered into a pre-poll alliance with the GFP. Vijai Sardesai had met our leader Rahul Gandhi and had extended the support to fight BJP in Goa and bring a change in Goa,” said Rao while addressing the media.
Rao said that in the coming elections, people have taken a stand to reject the BJP and give a chance to Congress to form a stable government.
“Only Congress & GFP alliance can go for a stable and developmental government,” he added.
Rao further said that Congress had sorted out issues that happened in the past and would contest the elections together.
The AICC leader Dinesh Gundu Rao also said that the nitty-gritties of the alliance will be worked out.
“Seat allocations will be based on mutual discussions, and we have established a lot of trust with each other and have come to certain decisions, and soon you all will come to know,” Rao added.
GFP President Vijai Sardesai said that Goa’s 60th Liberation Day alliance of Congress & GFP was announced on the eve.
“This is Team Goa to re-liberate Goa from elected autocracy that is presently involved in politics of acquisitions and takeovers. What began at the residence of Rahul Gandhi has been taken forward,” said Vijai.
Vijai also said that it’s time to re-liberate Goa from the corrupt BJP and urged all like-minded people to come together and defeat the BJP.
Sardesai said that there were no demands left, and we have come to a mutual understanding that will be announced in due time.
“What happened in the past is past, we want to look at the bright future, today is an auspicious day, and we want to liberate Goa,” he added.
Congress earlier on Thursday announced the first list of eight candidates. Former chief minister Digambar Kamat will be contesting from Margao Assembly.
Last week, the Goa Congress in charge of Dinesh Gundu Rao invited GFP leader Vijai Sardesai to meet with state unit chief Girish Chodankar on December 11, apparently for alliance talks.
The GFP was earlier a part of the BJP-led NDA and had contested the state polls together in 2017. However, it left the NDA following a rift in 2019.
