CONGRESS MADE ALL OUT EFFORTS TO FORM GOVT; GOA FORWARD DITCHED US, SAYS AGNELO FERNANDES
PANAJI: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) general secretary and former MLA Agnel Fernandes on Monday claimed that the party had made all efforts to form the government after 2017 Goa Assembly elections but the Goa Forward Party (GFP) ditched them.
Responding to NCP General Secretary and Goa in-charge Praful Patel’s charge that the Congress Party delayed staking claim to form the government after 2017 Assembly elections, Agnel said that it was not right to say that the Congress Party did not do efforts to form the government post-elections even as there was delay in finalising the leader. It is a fact that the Goa Forward Party ditched us at the last minute whatever reasons they may have, he said.
According to Agnel, Congress and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro made all out efforts by getting NCP MLA Churchill Alemao and another independent MLA from South Goa to form the government. “I am a witness to these discussions which took place at my flat in Panaji,” he said.
Even Margao MLA Digambar Kamat tried to get an MLA but Goa Forward Party ditched us. This was because Calangute BJP MLA Michael Lobo supported and funded two Goa Forward MLAs Jayesh Salgaonkar in Saligao and Vinod Paliencar in Siolim, Agnelo said.
Secondly, how can you trust Churchill, who claims till now he is giving issue based support to the BJP government? Asked Agnel.
Agnelo also pooh-poohed the claims of Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao and Goa Forward Party for unity saying they are still with the BJP. Let us put the ball in the people’s court, he said.