Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Alleging breach of alliance discipline, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) has demanded strict disciplinary action against two Congress leaders for openly campaigning against the official Congress–GFP alliance candidate in the Poinguinim Zilla Panchayat constituency, warning that such actions are creating voter confusion and risking loss of alliance votes.
Addressing a press conference, GFP leader Vikas Bhagat, flanked by Canacona Congress Block President Abel Borges and Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari, alleged that Canacona Congress Mahila Block President Ursila D’Costa and South Goa District Organising General Secretary Gaspar Coutinho are canvassing for Congress rebel Daya Gaonkar, who is contesting as an Independent candidate against the alliance nominee.
Bhagat stated that both Coutinho and D’Costa are allegedly misleading voters by claiming that Independent candidate Daya Gaonkar is the Congress candidate and that a vote for him amounts to a vote for the Congress party. “This is extremely intriguing and damaging when the Congress–GFP alliance has officially fielded GFP candidate Prashant Naik in Poinguinim. Alliance dharma (yuti-dharma) must be followed,” Bhagat said.
Drawing a parallel, Bhagat pointed out that GFP workers are actively campaigning for Congress candidate Sumitra Pagi in the Khola ZP seat, respecting the alliance arrangement. “Across the State, GFP chief Vijay Sardesai has taken strict action against GFP cadres working against alliance partners. We demand similar disciplinary action against Congress leaders Gaspar Coutinho and Ursila D’Costa for indulging in anti-party activities by openly canvassing against the alliance candidate,” he added.
Bhagat further claimed that when he questioned Gaspar Coutinho, the latter reportedly stated that he had made a personal commitment to newly inducted Congress leader Daya Gaonkar to support him in the ZP elections and was prepared to face any disciplinary action taken by the party.
Canacona Congress Block President Abel Borges said he became aware of the issue only a day earlier and had immediately reported the matter to senior party leadership. “Taking action is not in my hands. I have done my duty by informing the higher-ups. The party will decide and act. We fully support GFP candidate Prashant Naik in Poinguinim and appeal to voters not to vote for any Independent candidate,” Borges said.
Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari, who had contested the last Assembly elections as an alliance candidate with full support from the GFP, said it was unacceptable for any Congress leader to campaign for an Independent candidate when an official alliance nominee is in the fray. “Either the concerned leaders must immediately correct their conduct, or the party leadership should initiate disciplinary action before it is too late. Such actions only confuse the electorate,” Bhandari said.
