Congress backstabbed us by fielding candidates in Saligao and Fatorda, says Goa Forward Party

After working out a seat-sharing formula for elections at the eleventh hour on Wednesday, Congress fielded its two candidates from Saligao and Fatorda constituencies where the Goa Forward Party had already put up their candidates and was expecting to contest with the support of Congress.

"In a seat-sharing meeting, it was decided that Congress would leave Saligao, Fatorda and Siolim constituencies for the Goa Forward Party, but it back-stabbed us by asking Angelo Fernandis and Joseph Silva to file their candidatures from Saligao and Fatorda respectively", said Durgadas Kamat, spokesperson of the Goa Forward Party.

Goa Forward Party has asked the Congress to clarify who distributed A,B forms to the candidates. The GFP asked that if Congress had not done so, how come the forms had signature of the state party president.

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When we contacted Angelo Fernandis, who has filed his candidature from Saligao, he said "I was asked by my party to file my candidature from Saligao. It was never decided that Saligao to be left for Goa Forward Party."

After today's scrutiny, the returning officer has cleared the form of Joseph Silva as Congress candidate from Fatardo constituency. Interestingly, Silva had submitted the form not only as a Congress candidate, but also from the Goa Vikas Party. His second form, submitted from the GVP, was rejected.

Angelo Fernandis, Congress Candidate from Saligao

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According to sources within the Goa Congress, the central leadership is not happy with these developments as they were looking at Goa Forward Party mentor Viajai Sardesai as a possible alliance partner if the Congress won seats in double digits this time. As a damage-control move, the Congress leadership in Goa may ask Joseph Silva to withdraw from Fatardo.

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