Congress's Lok Sabha candidates in Goa to be announced by March 15

PANAJI: Congress will announce its candidate for the two Lok Sabha seats in Goa by March 15, it said today.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh told reporters here that the party high command had already received a list of candidates picked by the state unit, and the candidates would be announced on March 15.

Singh held discussions with state Congress leaders and MLAs. Names of several ticket-aspirants were discussed during the meetings today, he told reporters.

Asked about the rumour that BJP MLA Vishnu Wagh will cross over to Congress and contest from North Goa Lok Sabha seat, Singh refused to reveal anything, but said, "Wagh is being badly treated by BJP, and Congress has sympathy for him."

He also hinted that Congress may contest both the seats, not leaving North Goa seat for Nationalist Congress Party, unlike in the past.

"Local Congress leaders feel we should contest both the seats and I am with them," Singh said, adding that the party will discuss the issue with the NCP.

Congress got a drubbing in the last Assembly polls in Goa and was reduced to single-digit strength.

Sources said a group of six MLAs was lobbying for Ravi Naik from North Goa and Luizinho Faleiro from South Goa.