NCP In Talks With Cong, TMC For Alliance In Goa Polls: Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: The NCP is in talks with the Congress and the Trinamool Congress for an alliance ahead of the Goa Assembly elections, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday.

“Trinamool, NCP and Congress are holding discussions. We have given our choice of seats to them. A decision will be made soon,” Mr Pawar said.

Goa will vote on February 14.

“We discussed coming together in Goa and the discussions are still on. No decision has been made yet. Goa needs a change and the BJP government needs to be changed,” Mr Pawar said.

Meanwhile, the BJP in Goa yesterday saw two exits – MLA Praveen Zante quit the ruling party hours after Goa minister Michael Lobo also quit the BJP, saying it was “not the party of the common man”.

Mr Zante is the fourth legislator to break away from the party ahead of the state elections. The BJP now has 23 MLAs in the 40-member strong house.

The Congress, on the other hand, however, denied that it is in talks for an alliance with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party in Goa.

“No alliance or talks with the Trinamool Congress is happening. Despite efforts by the Trinamool, the Congress has made it clear that the whole approach and attempt of the Trinamool – right from Day 1 – in Goa has been negative and aimed at attacking the Congress, instead of the BJP,” Congress leader Dinesh R Gundu Rao said yesterday.

“They have poached our MLAs and now they want an alliance to give them seats,” he added.

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