Cong preferring fresh faces to contest Goa polls: Digvijaya

Some of the sitting legislators of Congress in Goa who have "drifted away" may not get tickets to contest upcoming Assembly elections as the party has decided to give preference to fresh faces, party veteran Digvijaya Singh said today.
"We have had a very detailed discussion on every seat. The political strategy for each Assembly seat has been worked out. Some more discussions will take place in next few days before the final list issent to Central Election Committee of AICC," the AICC general secretary said here.
He was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting of the State Election Committee of Congress to shortlist candidates for the polls, due next year.

"We have decided to give preference to new faces and also at the same time our whole effort is to expose the non-implementation of electoral promises by BJP government, corruption in BJP, total violation of the regional plans and also various issues which they had promised during the last election but have gone back on them," Singh said.
Responding to a query, the Congress leader said at least two sitting MLAs have already "drifted" from the party.
"Mauvin Godinho (legislator from Dabolim constituency) has left the Congress party. While Atanasio Monserratte (Taleigao constituency) has not made it clear whether he will be contesting on Congress ticket or not," he said.

Singh said another legislator Pandurang Madkaikar (Cumbharjua seat) was giving "different signals", and "conflicting statements" for last one and half or two months.

On the election campaign to be undertaken by Congress, Singh said the party was extremely concerned about the "total collapse" of governance in state, "where dues of contractors are pending and government piling up a huge debt."
"We are also concerned about huge unemployment in mining industry in Goa, which the Congress party would like to bring to the notice of people of Goa through our mass contact programme," he said.
Singh informed that the election manifesto committee has been constituted and soon suggestions will be invited from the common people.

"Our chargesheet against the BJP and AAP governments of Delhi has been printed and its distribution has also started. We are also planning a 'padyatra' (march) from North to South Goa from November 19, which will be the beginning of the birth centenary celebrations of Indira Gandhi," the Congress general secretary said.
He said these programmes will be held throughout year
"The national executive of the NSUI will be held in Goa on November 23, 24, 25," Singh said.
In election held in 2012 for the 40-member House, Congress had won only 9 seats, as it was decimated by BJP under Manohar Parrikar.