Congress in Goa to prep for mid-term Assembly polls: Kamat

The Congress on Saturday said "anything could happen" in politically sensitive Goa in the coming days, with former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat hinting that the coastal state could be heading for mid-term assembly elections, along with the Lok Sabha polls in 2019.

Addressing a press conference following a meeting of the Congress legislative party and the Pradesh Congress Committee, Kamat said the party is also in the process of starting a state-wide drive to sign up members, seek donations, as well as create public awareness about the corruption and absence of governance in the state, in view of infighting between the coalition allies and prolonged illness of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is battling advanced pancreatic cancer.

"Nobody knows what will happen in the coming days. We are gearing up for the two by-elections, Lok Sabha elections and the state Assembly polls," he said. Bye-elections were necessitated after two Congress MLAs quit the party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in October.

The political situation in Goa has been fluid ever since Parrikar was afflicted by cancer in February. Ruling allies have been pressuring the BJP for plum portfolios, some even demanding dropping of Parrikar as the Chief Minister, resulting in a crisis in the ruling camp.

"People are angry with what is happening. We are trying to channelise the anger with the campaign. The jan sampark campaign will highlight the failures of the government to the people of Goa by visiting their homes in all 40 Assembly constituencies," Kamat added. - IANS