The Congress has rejected the Trinamool Congress's offer for an alliance for the assembly polls in Goa with AICC in charge of state Dinesh Gundu Rao taking a dig and stating that "Trinamool's brilliant strategy to defeat BJP in Goa is weaken Congress and divide the anti-BJP vote".
Mr Rao's response came after a tweet by Mahua Moitra, who is Goa in charge of Trinamool Congress. She had said the Trinamool Congress had made "formal and definitive offer to INC on Goa to defeat BJP" two weeks ago.
She had also taken a dig at Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is senior election observer of the party, in Goa and said he should talk to his party's leadership if he is not aware of details.
"AITC already made formal and definitive offer to INC on Goa to defeat BJP 2. INC leadership asked for time to revert. This was almost 2 weeks ago. 3. If Mr. Chidambaram not aware of details he should talk to his leadership rather than making these statements," Ms Moitra had said in her tweet.
Dinesh Gundu Rao, in his response to her tweet, also referred to an earlier tweet by party leader KC Venugopal and asked whose reply was she waiting for.
"Trinamool's brilliant strategy to defeat BJP in Goa is weaken Congress and divide the anti BJP vote. If @kcvenugopalmp 's tweet wasn't reply enough, I wonder who from amongst Delhi leaders response is @MahuaMoitra awaiting. And Trinamool's brilliant strategy to defeat BJP in Goa is weaken Congress and divide the anti BJP vote. Whom does that help Moitraji?" Dinesh Gundu Rao said in a tweet.
Ms Moitra later did not directly refer to Dinesh Gundu Rao's remarks but said she did not want to "engage in further Twitter shadow boxing" with various Congress functionaries.
"Uninformed false bravado no substitute for rational thinking & maturity. Definitve offer between principals on table - waiting for revert. No desire to engage in further Twitter shadow boxing with various INC functionaries," she said.
Mr Venugopal, who is Congress general secretary (Organisation), had said on January 10 that no discussions were held on an alliance with Trinamool Congress and Congress was confident of putting Goa back on the path to progress soon.
"The rumour in circulation that a possible alliance with TMC was discussed by Shri @RahulGandhi in today's meeting is completely baseless & untrue. Let me assure that the Congress party is confident- we will put Goa back on the path to progress soon," Mr Venugopal had said.
The Trinamool Congress in recent days has been hinting and advocating a "secular alliance" in Goa to defeat the BJP but the Congress is keen to fight the assembly polls with Goa Forward Party only.
The NCP and the Shiv Sena, which ally with the Congress in Maharashtra, are not allies of Congress in Goa. The Congress is apparently irked at "poaching" by Trinamool Congress in the state. Former Chief Minister of Goa and Congress Luizinho Faleiro had joined the Trinamool in September last year and was also sent to Rajya Sabha as a party member. Goa will go to polls on February 14.
Police Complaint Against Goa Congress Candidate Over Constitution Remark In Delhi Liquor Policy Case, Probe Agency Arrests Man Who "Managed" AAP Funds For Goa Polls Goa Court Summons Arvind Kejriwal In Poll Code Violation Case Is Safe Car Enough? Volvo Crash That Killed CEO, Family Sparks Big Question Pics: Rahul Gandhi's Family Lunch At Iconic Delhi Restaurant "Nothing Short Of Nightmare": Woman Misses Life Event, Slams Air India Public Sector Hydropower Company Hiring For 118 Posts, Check Details Delhi's Air Quality Turns 'Severe' Despite GRAP-4 Restrictions PM Modi Meets Yoga Practitioner, Other Influencers In Kuwait Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.