Goa polls: Cong's decision on 4 candidates on hold

Although only two more days are left to file nominations for the March 3 Goa polls, Congress is yet to announce its four candidates even as the party is facing trouble from Trinamool Congress which is absorbing the rebels.

Congress, which is fighting polls by aligning with NCP, will be contesting on 33 seats. The party has already announced its 29 candidates for the Assembly elections, but the decision on crucial four constituencies - Canacona, Sanvordem, Mormugao and Fatorda - is still awaited.

Sources stated that the demand by Muslim community for at least one ticket has halted the announcement for four seats.

All Goa Muslim Forum Chief Co-ordinator Firoz Khan said that the community wants representation in the state legislative Assembly.

"We had asked for four seats with the Congress but the party told us that of the four constituencies we have chosen, there are sitting MLAs in three of them. So we have said that at least one constituency should be contested by a Muslim candidate," he added.

The community members earlier this week met Congress leader Oscar Fernandes during his Goa visit.

The meeting remained inconclusive forcing other Congress leaders like BK Hariprasad, Jagmit and Singh Brar to rush to the state to solve the impasse.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress party has began absorbing the Congress rivals who were denied ticket.

Veteran Congressmen, including Savio Coutinho, Sameer Salgaoncar and NCP leader Pandurang Raut, have joined the Trinamool Congress party.

Coutinho will be contesting against Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in Margao constituency while Salgaoncar will be contesting in Mandrem and Raut in Bicholim constituency.