Congress in talks with others for stable alternative in Goa, says AICC in-charge

NEW DELHI: With ailing Goa CM Manohar Parrikar admitted to AIIMS in Capital, the Congress leadership has said the party “is in touch” with others and “is ready to provide a stable alternative government”.

This, even as many in the Goa Congress — which has already filed a caveat with the governor against any move to dissolve the state assembly — are in favour of “reviving relations” with the Vijai Sardesai-led GFP, now a BJP ally, which has three MLAs and support of another three Independents.

AICC Goa in-charge A Chella Kumar, who is in the state, told ET: “The BJP-led government in Goa is now in a state of drift with tension within the state BJP amid hard-bargaining allies. We are on a wait-and-watch mode. We are talking to some local parties and MLAs who have reached out to us. The Congress is ready to provide a stable alternative government provided other parties are ready to join hands with us by not compromising the interests of the people of Goa.”


In the 40-member Goa assembly, the Congress is the largest party with 16 MLAs, five short of the halfway mark. After the Goa polls threw up a hung verdict last year, Parrikar cobbled up a majority for the 14-member BJP with the support of MGP (3), GFP (3) and Independents (3) even as a lone NCP MLA is floating around.

There is also a buzz that the BJP leadership is reaching out to a section of Congress MLAs as a precaution against a possible toppling bid.

Incidentally, the Parrikar regime recently charge-sheeted Congress MLA and Ex-CM Digambar Kamat in a scam. “The Congress MLAs are completely united and BJP camp is spreading rumours about lack of Congress unity,” Chella Kumar claimed.

Growing flux in Goan politics has also led to a debate on whether the Centre would club assembly polls in the state with LS elections.