AAP guards Goa leaders after Congress moves candidates to resort
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has reportedly made attempts to guard its Goa election candidates a day before the poll results. The AAP has kept its candidates at certain locations, sources told NDTV. Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian National Congress had moved its candidates to a resort. Goa Congress General Secretary Sunil Kauthankar said the candidates have decided to stay together by choice.
Why does this story matter?
Goa may see a change of leadership as the election results are due on Thursday. The state is currently governed by the Pramod Sawant-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration. Some exit poll results have predicted that the Congress party may come to power this time, while the others predict a BJP comeback. With such a close race, the poaching of MLAs is anticipated.
Congress 'taking all precautions'
The Congress party has reportedly moved all 37 of its candidates to a resort in north Goa. All 37 candidates will remain at the resort until the results are declared. Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar said, "The last time BJP manipulated the verdict of the people of Goa. This time we have taken all precautions to protect the mandate of the people."
Congress is 'double guarding,' says Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said the party was "double guarding" its house this time. Congress was the single-largest party in the 2017 polls, but the BJP by allying with other candidates. In 2017, Congress had not imagined that the BJP will form an "illegitimate government," party leader and former Goa CM Digambar Kamat said. "We won't take any chances this time," Kamat added.
Congress looking to form 'anti-BJP front'
Congress is reportedly in talks with other parties for an "anti-BJP front." However, Chidambaram said the TMC's proposal for an alliance in Goa had not been considered as the former had poached Congress leaders. When asked if any alliance was in the offing, Chidambaram told NDTV, "Goan leaders of our party are in touch with Goan leaders of other parties."
No party would like to join BJP: Former Goa CM
Further, Kamat said, "Given the circumstances, I feel no party—the AAP, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), or the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP)—would like to go to the BJP. They had their experiences... 10 people deserted us."
Results tomorrow; pollsters predict hung assembly
Voting for the Goa elections was held on February 14 and the result will be declared on March 10. The majority mark in the 40-member state assembly is 21. However, largely the exit polls predicted a hung house, with both BJP and Congress winning an average of 16 seats. The support of the AAP, the TMC, and the MGP may change the outcome.
What happened in the 2017 Goa elections?
In 2017, Congress had won 17 seats, the BJP had won 13, the MGP won three, and three went to the independents. The BJP had the popular vote of 32.5% (Congress had 28.4%). The BJP formed the government with the support of smaller parties.
