New Delhi: Former Union minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are “brokening” non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) votes in Goa.
“I do not comment on the intention of any party. In a direct fight between BJP and Congress in 2022, Congress will emerge as the clear winner,” said Chidambaram.
“TMC and you are sabotaging the non-BJP vote. Will it benefit the BJP, I cannot say,” he said when asked whether he believed that the TMC was helping the BJP and the Mamata Banerjee-led party along with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Working as B-Teams. , reported PTI.
Chidambaram said the Congress would take a decision on “it is desirable to announce the CM candidate before the elections” after holding discussions with the party’s candidates.
“That option is open,” said Chidambaram, Congress’ senior election observer for the Goa Assembly polls.
The senior Congress leader said loyalty to the party and voters is the first criterion for selecting candidates for the elections.
Chidambaram expressed confidence that if elected, he would be loyal to both the party and the voters.
Noting that the Congress is the only party that has deep roots in all 40 assembly constituencies, Chidambaram said the people of Goa know that it is only the oldest party which despite its “money power and misuse of the state has the power to defeat the BJP”. has potential.” Power”.
Emphasizing that only two Congress MLAs have joined the Trinamool Congress in Goa, the former Union minister said it was not for him to comment on any party’s motive or strategy.
“Ninety-nine percent of Congress workers are with the Congress. I am not sad that Mr Reginaldo Lourenco has joined TMC,” said Chidambaram.
Asked about Congress’ recent resignation to join Trinamool Congress and West Bengal, he said, “TMC has taken a lost candidate from our hands and if it puts him up in the polls, he will lose.” Will continue to be a candidate.” The organization led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is taking an aggressive stand in Goa.
Chidambaram said Congress workers and voters of Curtorim assembly constituency are determined to defeat Lourenço in the upcoming elections.
Curtorim MLA Alexo Reginaldo Lourenco resigned from the Congress earlier this week and joined the TMC. With his resignation, the strength of the Congress party in the 40-member Goa Assembly was reduced to two.
Commenting on the election preparations and the party’s situation in Goa, he said the fall of the Congress took place in 2017 and 2019 when its elected MLAs joined the BJP.
Accusing the BJP government in Goa of a government “by defectors, by defectors and for defectors”, Chidambaram said the saffron party has ruled for 10 years and ruined the state, especially its economy, The environment and ethos have been ruined.
“There is a tremendous desire for change. Congress is the only party with deep roots in all 40 constituencies of Goa. People know that despite the BJP’s misuse of money power and state power, Congress has the capacity to defeat the BJP. Hoping to do well in the elections.”
Responding to a poster about the possibility of exodus of the party’s elected leaders after the elections, Chidambaram said: “Nothing like this will happen. We have placed the responsibility of suggesting names of potential candidates on the block Congress committees and block workers.
“We have asked them to recommend names on the basis of loyalty, integrity, acceptability for Congress workers and victory among voters,” he said.
Loyalty to the party and voters is the first criterion, the former Union minister said: We will select a candidate from among the names suggested by the Block Congress Committee of the constituency. We are confident that our candidates will remain loyal to the party and voters if elected.
Commenting on the possibility of an alliance in Goa, Chidambaram said: “I have found that, in Goa, there is a practice among political parties to talk to each other till the elections and even after the elections!”
“Our Goa PCC leaders have responded to suggestions for talks by other parties, including the Goa Forward Party. There are opportunities, risks and obstacles. The AICC leadership will take the final decision,” he said.
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