Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Putting to rest all speculation over internal friction, the Congress–Goa Forward Party (GFP) alliance in Poinguinim displayed a rare show of unity on Thursday as GFP’s ZP candidate Prashant Naik appeared alongside former Dy. Speaker Isidore Fernandes and senior Congress leaders Janardhan Bhandari and Madhav Desai at a press meet in Chaudi.
Declaring that “all is well,” Isidore said the Congress rank and file is actively campaigning for the alliance candidate in ZP Poinguinim (23). He added that the BJP’s “revenge politics” in Canacona will backfire, first in the ZP polls and later in the assembly elections.
GFP leaders stated that door-to-door campaigning has been completed 100% in Loliem-Polem, 40% in Poinguinim, 45% in Gaondongrim and 50% in Khotigao with active involvement of Congress cadres.
Calling it a morale booster, Isidore said Congress leaders Bhandari and Desai, both holding a strong mass base in Gaondongrim and Khotigao, have been supporting the campaign since nominations were filed. “Today we are making that official,” he said.
Appealing for clean politics, Isidore urged Goa’s leaders to attack policies, not personal shortcomings. “If you criticize someone personally, someone else will target you too,” he remarked.
Janardhan Bhandari said anger against BJP is rising. “Voters tell us not to worry and to move forward with Prashant. We are going to the people with one point: defeat BJP,” he said.
Former TMC candidate and now Congress leader Madhav Desai said the time is ripe for change. “Despite double-engine governments, BJP has failed to deliver anything meaningful in all four villages,” he said.
Candidate Prashant Naik said the alliance is reaching out even to disgruntled Congressmen who have rebelled and entered the fray. “We want to ensure non-BJP votes are not divided,” he said.
Responding to queries about the absence of Congress block leaders, GFP’s Vikas Bhagat clarified that all are with the alliance. “In Canacona, Congress means Jana, and Jana is here. Other leaders are busy campaigning in the Khola ZP segment or away due to personal emergencies,” he informed.
Along with Naik, Isidore, Bhandari and Desai, GFP councilor Shubham Komarpant and GFP Environment Cell Chairman Vikas Bhagat also addressed the press conference.
