New Delhi: With predictions of a hung verdict in Goa, the Congress has started ring-fencing its candidates to avoid a 2017-style disaster in which it failed to form a government even after winning the most seats.
Stung by defections in the past, the party has reportedly moved its candidates to a resort in north Goa, where they will stay until Thursday's counting of votes is over and the results are out.
"All our MLAs have decided to be together," Congress leader and Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao told NDTV.
The Congress has also tasked its top negotiators, P Chidambaram and DK Shivakumar, to open talks with smaller parties and independents.
A proactive Congress has also reached out to the Trinamool Congress and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), its known adversaries in other states like Bengal and Delhi.
"We are open to an alliance with all parties who fought against the BJP in Goa. We are open to alliance with the Trinamool Congress and AAP or anyone who is against the BJP in Goa," Mr Gundu Rao said.
AAP has shown interest in collaborating with the Congress for a non-BJP alliance.
AAP's chief minister candidate Amit Palekar confirmed to NDTV that the Congress has reached out to his party. "Some people from the Congress have contacted us," Mr Palekar said.
"We are open to any non-BJP alliance. We will not support the BJP under any circumstances," he added.
But as they came together on NDTV, the two leaders said very little about their potential talks.
"There are many political parties in Goa - MGP, Trinamool, AAP, many players. We are sure of our numbers, we will form the government. Let us wait for what will happen after March 10 (results)," said Gundu Rao, as AAP's Mr Palekar listened.
For the Congress, it is a big turnaround in its stance towards AAP and Trinamool.
Just a month ago, Mr Chidambaram had described the two parties as "parties of defectors". He had also said both parties lacked winning potential but would divide anti-BJP votes.
The Trinamool had earlier proposed an alliance of the Congress and other parties to take on the ruling BJP.
But Mr Chidambaram had snubbed the party, saying that its proposal for a tie-up in Goa was "not considered" as it had poached Congress leaders (like Luizinho Faleiro).