Want to contest both LS seats in Goa: Cong, NCP not willing

Congress's Goa unit today said it would like to contest both the Lok Sabha seats from the state, though its ally NCP wants to field its candidate on one of them.

The state executive committee of Congress which met here today reiterated the demand, after Goa Pradesh Congress Committee had first staked claim on North Goa constituency.

GPCC president John Fernandes is scheduled to meet UPA coordination committee chairman A K Antony on Monday to discuss the issue.

Traditionally, Congress has contested from South Goa, leaving the North Goa to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.

"We want the North Goa seat to be transferred to us because we can win it," Fernandes told PTI. NCP had lost in North Goa to BJP in the last three elections, he pointed out.

During his meeting with Antony in Delhi he will demand the North Goa seat for the party, he said, adding that senior leader Digvijay Singh, Congress's Goa in-charge, will also take up the matter at the coordination committee meeting.

However, Goa NCP's chief spokesperson Trojano D'mello said his party does not share Congress's view.

"We can not give up this seat to Congress. They have been saying the same thing all the time. We are not in the position to surrender the seat, unless Sharad Pawar and (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi reach an agreement," D'mello told PTI when his reaction was sought.