Goa election 2022: Sharad Pawar's party NCP is in talks with Congress and Trinamool Congress
The Nationalist Congress Party is in talks with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and the Congress to fight the Goa assembly elections together, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said today.
"Trinamool, NCP and Congress are holding discussions. We have given our choice of seats to them. A decision will be made soon," Mr Pawar said.
Goa will vote on February 14.
"We discussed coming together in Goa and the discussions are still on. No decision has been made yet. Goa needs a change and the BJP government needs to be changed," Mr Pawar said.
The Congress has, however, denied it was in talks for an alliance with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's party in Goa.
"No alliance or talks with the Trinamool Congress is happening. Despite efforts by the Trinamool, the Congress has made it clear that the whole approach and attempt of the Trinamool - right from Day 1 - in Goa has been negative and aimed at attacking the Congress, instead of the BJP," Congress leader Dinesh R Gundu Rao said yesterday. "They have poached our MLAs and now they want an alliance to give them seats," he added.
The BJP in Goa yesterday saw two exits - MLA Pravin Zantye quit the ruling party hours after Goa minister Michael Lobo also quit the BJP, saying it is "no longer a party for the common man". Mr Zantye is the fourth MLA to defect from the party ahead of the state elections. The BJP is now left with 23 MLAs in the 40-member strong house.