PANJIM: Three weeks after the declaration of the poll schedule, the Congress Party at last declared its candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in the State on Saturday.
Former Union Minister Ramakant Khalap and Capt Viriato Fernandes were picked as candidates for North and South Goa respectively.
Four-time sitting MP Francisco Sardinha was denied a ticket.
Both Khalap and Fernandes have assured that if elected they would
be the voice of Goans in the Parliament.
The announcement was made a day after the party released its manifesto on Friday and following a meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) in the evening. The meeting was attended by the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar and Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao.
Prior to this announcement, the Congress party had been grappling with internal dissent and disarray, as various factions had started independent campaigns amid a conspicuous silence from top leadership on candidate declaration. The delay had led to growing discontent among party cadres and political analysts, particularly in South Goa, which has historically been a Congress stronghold.
Earlier, the Congress had hinted at a symbolic timing for the declaration of candidates, on April 9, on the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa. However, the names were declared on Saturday than anticipated, amidst discontent among the party workers and also a week before the process of filing nomination papers start from April 12.
Patkar said that Khalap will launch his campaign from Hutatma Memorial, Mapusa while, Capt Fernandes will start his campaign from Lohia Maidan, Margao from April 9.
With Khalap and Capt Fernandes now set to represent the Congress in North and South Goa respectively, the stage is set for a keenly contested election in the State. As the election fervour intensifies, all eyes will be on the Congress Party’s bid to regain its foothold in Goa’s political landscape.
To a question, Capt Fernandes claimed that 30 days were enough for campaigning.
“On January 16 this year (Opinion Poll Day), we tested the waters and decided to concentrate in five to six assembly constituencies. We had decided that irrespective of the candidate, we will campaign for the party. We have already covered 17 assembly segments in South Goa. In some constituencies we had three rounds of campaigning, while at few places we had two rounds of campaigning,” he said.
He added, “We have been taking people’s issues be it Mhadei river diversion, Sanjivani sugar factory, farmers problems, mining and collapsing law and order. This ticket is not for me, but it is for him who has been relentlessly raising voice of the people.”
Meanwhile Ramakant Khalap said, “I was getting calls and receiving support from party workers and people for the last few months. My work is an open book and is known to the people. I have worked for local people, for countrymen and for India that could be proud of itself in the International Comity of nations. We will be the voice of people in Parliament.”