Goa Congress will meet tomorrow on rout in Lok Sabha polls

PANAJI: Congress, which drew a blank in Goa in recent polls, will hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss the party's lacklustre performance in the coastal state. " Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) will be meeting tomorrow morning to discuss the poll results," State unit Congress spokesman Sunil Kawathankar said today.

He said that entire results would be analysed at the meeting. Congress candidates lost to BJP in both, North and South Goa constituencies. State unit Congress president John Fernandes, who had rushed to Delhi after the poll results were out, would be returning tomorrow to attend the meeting, he said.

"We were waiting for the arrival of GPCC chief from Delhi," Kawathankar said. Earlier in the day, Congress nominee Ravi Naik, who lost to Shripad Naik of BJP in North Goa, alleged that the BJP used "money power" to ensure his defeat. "Vitamin M was distributed in all 40 (Assembly) constituencies," he told a press conference.

Naik also said that late distribution of ticket left him with little time for campaigning in elections. "BJP candidate is active in the constituency for last 15 years, while I got only 15 days," he said. Congress also faced set back in South Goa after few of its leaders publicly decided not to work for the official candidate. BJP's Narendra Sawaikar defeated Aleixo Lourenco in South Goa.