NT Reporter
Panaji
After Congress released its first list, the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) on Thursday announced 12 candidates for the Zilla Panchayat polls, including for the St Cruz seat, which has a sitting Congress member.
Congress, RGP and GFP are partners in the Grand Opposition Alliance (GOA), though RGP president Manoj Parab had earlier accused the GFP and Congress of “cheating” and breaking alliance rules. He had said that one partner declared first and another later, instead of announcing candidates jointly on one platform.
The RGP list includes, in North Goa: Torxem – Narayan Shirodkar, Siolim – Jayandrath Padolkar, Colvale – Pradnya Sawant, Sirsai – Cyprian Pereira, Anjuna – Minguel Queiroz (Michael), St Cruz – Esperanca Braganca (Espy), and St Lawrence – Trupti Bakal. In South Goa: Betqui–Candola – Vinay Gaude, Veling–Priol – Neeta Jalmi, Queula – Vishvesh Naik, Borim – Harsha Borkar and Siroda – Deepinti Shirodkor (Manila).
Soon after the RGP announcement, the Congress convened a Pradesh Election Committee meeting and finalised its second list. Congress central leaders will be in Goa on Friday to decide the future course of action, said GPCC president Amit Patkar.
Before the meeting, Patkar denied any rift, saying that issues are natural when multiple parties come together. “We released the first list of 11 candidates where there was no discussion among alliance partners. There were certain seats wherein discussions were going on and certain issues which were not getting resolved… those seats remained undecided, including one seat where we have our sitting ZP member. Why… because we thought that Goa needs unity. People’s sentiment is that all should come together,” Patkar said.
Replying to media questions about differences between workers and selected candidates, Part President Damodar Naik said the party had given tickets to candidates who are young, fresh and carry no liability, and that all workers are united and will work together for the victory of the party’s nominees.
