Congress Cannot Win Goa Assembly Elections On Its Own, Says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena has expressed concern over Congress not showing enthusiasm on its proposal to repeat Maharashtra’s alliance experiment in Goa assembly elections. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said the political situation in Goa is such that if the Congress contests the assembly elections there on its own, it will not be able to even cross the unit’s figure.

Raut said Congress has only three MLAs in Goa. The party legislators left the party in a group, he said.

“As important political parties, we (Shiv Sena and NCP) had offered cooperation to the Congress in this difficult time. But I don’t have any information about what Congress is thinking. If she contests the elections on her own, she cannot even cross the unit’s figure,” he added.

After having a round of talks with Congress’ Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundurao, Congress Legislature Party leader Digambar Kamat and state Congress president Girish Chudankar, Raut said they had proposed that the Congress contest 30 of the 40 assembly seats, leaving the rest to the allies.

He said 10 seats in Goa where Congress has not been able to win during the last 50 years should be given to Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Goa Forward Party.

Local Leadership Not In-Line With Rahul Gandhi

Raut also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was in favour of the idea of ​​an alliance but the local leadership had a different opinion. He said the Shiv Sena would support his candidature if Utpal, son of former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar decides to enter the political fray in this assembly election. “Utpal should take a bold decision to contest the elections. He should be courageous to contest elections. If he takes a decision, Shiv Sena will support him,” Raut said.