Mahua Moitra alleged that all political parties in Goa were in cahoots with the ruling BJP. (File)Panaji: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra today alleged that all political parties in Goa are in cahoots with the ruling BJP, and also accused the Congress of doing nothing all these years.Addressing a press conference, Ms Moitra also slammed BJP chief JP Nadda, saying that since his party was rejected in West Bengal, he was targeting the TMC in Goa.The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has decided to contest the Assembly polls in BJP-ruled Goa, which is just a few months away."All the parties in Goa are in cahoots together...If you want to defeat the BJP, the Congress has not done nothing all these years," she claimed."(Senior Congress leader) P Chidambaram coming here one day and walking on the road is not going to do something. I am here everyday. Mr Chidambaram comes here for a day and goes," TMC's Lok Sabha member said.She was referring to the Congress's rally against inflation taken out recently in the state, in which Mr Chidambaram, who is Congress's election observer for Goa, took part.Ms Moitra talked about three issues in Goa - destruction of environment for three linear projects in Mollem forest area, renovation of Kala Academy project and illegal structure at archaeologically protected area of Old Goa.She said that all the political parties in Goa have not done anything on these issues."Congress raises every issue, but we have not seen sustained question and answers from them," she alleged.Ms Moitra said that TMC is here to question the BJP in a sustained manner and put pressure on it."TMC will raise these issues in Parliament," she stated.When asked about Mr Nadda's recent statement against the TMC over its rule in West Bengal, Ms Moitra asked, "JP Nadda ji hai kaun? (Who is JP Nadda?)...He is president of some national party, why should we comment on him."Mr Nadda, during his recent visit to Goa, had alleged that the law and order situation in West Bengal is deteriorating under the Mamata Banerjee government.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comMs Moitra further said, "Mr Nadda went to Bengal and made accusations. But what happened? People of Bengal rejected him. Now, he can't go to Bengal, so he is commenting in Goa. So why should I comment on some other party's national president? I wish him good luck." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The TMC seems to be dividing the secular votes and helping BJP, Dinesh Gundu Rao said.Panaji: The Congress accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) of helping the ruling BJP by dividing secular votes in Goa where Assembly elections will be held in the next few months.Addressing Congress workers at the Thivim constituency on Saturday evening, hours after Goa Forward Party leader Kiran Kandolkar joined TMC, AICC Goa desk incharge Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “It's sad to note that at a time when Goans, in general, are anxiously waiting to end the BJP misrule, concerted attempts are being made to divide the anti-BJP vote”.The TMC seems to be dividing the secular votes and helping BJP, he said."The new parties that have entered Goa don't seem to understand the prevailing public mood and sentiment against the BJP. They also seem to have failed to gauge the public sentiment that like-minded parties should come together in 2022,” he added.When the Congress and other like-minded parties have been trying to come together with a one-point agenda to defeat the BJP in 2022, these new parties seem to be on a mission to divide the anti-BJP votes, Rao said in an apparent reference to Congress veteran Luizinho Faleiro switching sides to TMC, which nominated him to Rajya Sabha.“These parties first lured Congress leaders and workers with positions. Now, they are targeting the regional parties by poaching their candidates. People are watching. They are mature enough to see the game plan of these new parties that a division of votes will benefit the ruling party," he added.In the 2017 Goa Assembly polls, the Congress had won the highest 17 seats in the 40-member House restricting the BJP at 13. However, the BJP allied with regional parties- GFP and MGP- to form a government under the late Manohar Parrikar.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comOver years, the Congress' strength dwindled to four as many MLAs switched over to the ruling BJP. Faleiro recently joined the Mamata Banerjee-led party.(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"It is TMC's aim to ensure that Goans get good governance," Luizinho Faleiro said.Panaji: Trinamool Congress party leader Luizinho Faleiro on Thursday said Goa does not need to ape Gujarat or Bengal to solve its problems."Goa does not want the Gujarat model or the Bengal model, but needs a Goa model, and that will happen only if the people of Goa decide what''s best for Goa," he said at a press conference."It is TMC's aim to ensure that Goans get good governance," he added.Mr Faleiro also slammed his detractors who have said his nomination to the Rajya Sabha was a "retirement package".He had not retired, and he wanted to raise the coastal state''s issues in Parliament, he said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comMr Faleiro thanked party chairperson Mamata Banerjee for giving him the opportunity and added that he will not make compromises, nor make empty promises.He also accused the Congress of being involved in "the wholesale business of selling MLAs and dividing votes".
Panaji: Formally jumping into Goaâs electoral fray, Revolutionary Goans (RG) on Sunday announced that it will contest the 2022 assembly elections under the Goa Su-Raj party banner. RG founder Manoj Parab made the announcement at an event at Azad Maidan in the state capital and stated that the party will field candidates in every constituency. âRevolutionary Goans will contest election on Goa Su-Raj party name. This is not a seat-sharing adjustment or tie-up of any compromise or setting. Here we, Revolutionary Goans, will remain as RG but as we need a political party and single symbol to contest the elections, we have decided to do it with Goa Su-Raj party,â Parab said. RG had applied for registration as a party seven months back but have not received recognition as yet. Parab also announced that he had met with Aam Aadmi Partyâs national convener Arvind Kejriwal and political strategist Prashant Kishor, who is currently lobbying for Trinamool Congress. âToday the time has come to say that Goans are not helpless, we are revolutionary. We will save our Goa. It is time for Goans to get out of the slavery to people from other states. There are dalals today who are running from one party to the other. They donât have principles, they donât have an ideology,â Parab said. Parab acknowledged that he used to consider Kishor as his political guru and had approached him seeking assistance from Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) for the upcoming polls. Parab said that Kishor brushed him aside and said that RG will not win more than 500 votes. âThese parties from Delhi and other places have treated us as dirt,â said Parab. âWe will win the elections and show them.â
Panaji: After announcing three candidates, including himself, in Bardez taluka without naming any party, ports minister Michael Lobo said that he will announce more names for the upcoming assembly elections in the coming days and if BJP does not listen to him, options are open. “We will announce candidates soon. We are declaring names for the people of Goa and let the party be decided later,” he said. “I’m a BJP MLA and will speak to the party and if they don’t listen to us then other options are open,” the minister said. Lobo said that the people of Goa will decide who will form the next government in Goa When asked from which party he, his wife Delilah and Sudhir Kandolkar will contest, Lobo said, “I have given names of probable candidates, these are good candidates and people are searching for good candidates. There is no problem even if they are from the opposition.” Asked about the talk in political circles that he wants to have control over Bardez taluka, Lobo said there is nothing like that. “We will go across the state and tell people to elect good people because it is not a question of five months, it is of five years,” he said. “It is not like that,” Lobo said when asked whether it is an indication that he will not continue with BJP. “We want good candidates. People of Goa want good candidates so that their work is addressed and solved, whether it is water or electricity. We are fighting for basic things.” “I will announce the names of more candidates not only in Bardez, but beyond Bardez. We will announce names of candidates who will work for people and I will take the responsibility of that candidate. When I take the name of Kandolkar, and if he does not perform, then it is our responsibility,” he said. Lobo said that he is not eying the chief minister’s post. He said that he will study and announce the name for Aldona constituency. Further, he said that if the sitting MLA is good, then there is no need to announce other names.
PANAJI: After announcing three candidates, including himself, in Bardez taluka without naming party, Goa ports minister Michael Lobo said that he will announce more names for the upcoming assembly elections in the coming days and if BJP does not listen to us, options are open. âWe will announce candidates soon. We are declaring names for the people of Goa and let the party be decided later,â he said. âIâm a BJP MLA and will speak to the party and if they donât listen to us then other options are open,â the minister said. Lobo said that the people of Goa will decide who will form the next government in Goa. When asked from which party he, his wife Delilah and Sudhir Kandolkar will contest, Lobo said, âI have given names of probable candidates, these are good candidates and people are searching for good candidates and there is no problem even if they are from opposition.â Asked about the talk in political circles that he wants to have control over Bardez taluka, Lobo said there is nothing like that. âWe will go across the state and tell people to elect good people because it is not a question of five months, it is for five years,â he said. âIt is not like that,â Lobo said when asked whether it is an indication that he will not continue with BJP. âWe want good candidates. People of Goa want good candidates so that their work is addressed and solved whether it is water or electricity. We are fighting for basic things.â
NT NETWORKPanajiHitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for ‘engaging in caste and religion-based politics,’ All India Congress Committee secretary in-charge of Goa desk Dinesh Gundu Rao, on Saturday, said that using caste and religion as “tools” to gain votes will backfire on AAP in the 2022 Goa assembly elections.“Every political party has got their own strategies and own way of working, but to use caste and religion as a way of attracting votes in such a blatant manner I have not seen anywhere, this exposes AAP’s politics and it’s a exhibition of casteism, and using caste and religion as tools to gain votes is completely wrong and it is going to backfire badly,” Rao said while interacting with the media persons after the meeting of the party’s election co-ordination committee in Panaji.He was reacting to the announcement made by senior AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia that the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the 2022 Goa assembly polls will be from Bhandari Samaj and the deputy chief ministerial face will be from the Christian community. Rao said that AAP has a “hollow agenda,” and claimed that their intention is not development and welfare of the people of Goa.South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha said that it was “unfortunate” to see AAP’s move to bring caste and religion in the politics, and added that caste and religion is never a factor in the elections.“My point is if a candidate from a particular caste loses elections then what will they do? Will they import somebody? What caste? After getting elected there is only one caste and religion and that is humanity,” Sardinha said.Earlier in the day, the election co-ordination committee of the Congress party under the chairmanship of former finance minister and AICC senior election observer to Goa P Chidambaram met where they discussed the party’s further election strategies for the assembly polls.Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar told the media that the meeting wasto take stock of what was happening and what Congress needed to do and how to move forward by planning future activities of the party organisation.“We will launch statewide agitation in Goa on November 17, 2021 to create awareness on rising inflation.Several other programmes also we have chalked out, we are planning to file a chargesheet against the BJP-led government as for the last ten years people have suffered because of the atrocities committed by the BJP,” he said.Responding to the views expressed by Captain Viriato Fernandes of Goencho Avaaz that Congress and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party should come together to fight the elections, the GPCC president said, “I think what Viriato Fernandes is expressing a desire of the people of Goa that BJP should be defeated and we have started working to unite the people.”Reacting to the news that former Congressman and former chief minister Luizinho Faleiro will be TMC’s candidate for the upcoming bypoll to a Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal, Chodankar said, “In the past, we have said that Faleiro was given a retirement package by TMC to quit Congress and today it has turned out to be true.”
Panaji: Congress on Thursday accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of indulging in caste politics in Goa. âIt is clear that when they are not able to raise any issue successfully, they have invoked caste. All are aware AAP has been brought to Goa by BJP to fill the gaps when it is not in position to do anything on its own,â said Goa Pradesh Congress president Chodankar. Earlier in the day, Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia said an MLA from the Bahujan Samaj will be chief minister and a deputy will be from the Christian community. tnn
Panaji: Hours after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia announced that if the party is voted to power then they will give the post of chief minister and deputy chief minister to persons belonging to Bhandari Samaj and Catholic community respectively, the Congress party on Thursday hit out at AAP for engaging in caste and religion-based politics.“When one is frustrated and realises that nothing is going to work, that is the time you stoop low and do caste and religion-based politics. I and my party never got involved in caste and religion-based politics; we stress on issues pertaining to protection of minority communities and welfare of Bahujan Samaj,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar said.“The promises made by AAP clearly indicate that they cannot form the next government in Goa. What they want to do in Goa, they should first do it in Delhi. They should tell the people of Goa why they failed to make reservations for local communities in Delhi,” he added.Addressing a press conference in Panaji, along with senior party leader from Delhi Congress Alka Lamba, Chodankar alleged that BJP is using AAP not only to divide the secular vote but also divide the communities. “Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is originally from Haryana; he should first resign and give the post to a person from Delhi. He should also first give representation to people coming from the largest community in Delhi,” the GPCC president said.Alka Lamba questioned why AAP is shying away from ‘issue based politics’ and alleged that Kejriwal is promoting people belonging to his own caste while ignoring the other communities in Delhi.“Corruption and change in system were AAP’s main poll planks when they fought Delhi elections, but now what has changed suddenly?” she quipped.Lamba accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of conducting an operation to cover up alleged corruption in the Rafale jet deal scam.She questioned why the government failed to investigate the role of a middleman despite recovering documents related to the Rafale deal from him.Meanwhile, the Congress party said that they will launch statewide agitation in Goa on November 17, 2021 to create awareness on rising inflation in the country.
NT NETWORKPanajiWith an eye on the upcoming Goa assembly polls, the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress has nominated former Goa chief minister and the party’s national vice president Luizinho Faleiro as its candidate for an upcoming bypoll to a Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal.The Trinamool Congress (TMC) party on Saturday also appointed its Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra as in-charge of the party’s Goa unit with immediate effect.After resigning as Congress legislator on September 27, Faleiro had joined TMC on September 29 in Kolkata in the presence of Banerjee. He was subsequently appointed as the national vice president of the party on October 22.A bypoll has been necessitated after TMC MP Arpita Ghosh tendered her resignation from the Upper House of Parliament on September 15. By-election to the Rajya Sabha seat is scheduled to be held on November 29.As the veteran Goan politician is all set to become a member of the Upper House, sources in the TMC said the former chief minister will also be contesting the upcoming Goa assembly elections, scheduled to be held early next year.“We are extremely pleased to nominate Luizinho Faleiro to the Upper House of the Parliament,” AITC announced the decision via a tweet from the party’s official handle, stating that the party is confident that his efforts towards serving the nation shall be appreciated widely byour people.Faleiro is the second Goan politician, who has been nominated to a Rajya Sabha seat from another state. Former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh after his induction into the Union cabinet as the Defence minister in 2014.In a press release issued on Saturday, national general secretary of TMC Abhishek Banerjee said Mamata Banerjee is pleased to appoint Mahua Moitra, Lok Sabha MP from Krishnanagar, as in-charge of the party’s Goa unit with immediate effect.“AITC chairperson Mamata Banerjee looks forward to a brighter future for Goa, with All India Trinamool Congress paving the way with courage and wisdom,” he said.Meanwhile, Faleiro thanked Mamata Banerjee and all his party members for nominating him to the Rajya Sabha. “I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Goans at the national level and pledge to make Goans heard,” he said. He also said Goans would now find a voice in the Parliament to raise their issues with the help of TMC.“There are a number of issues including the granting of special category status to Goa on the lines of the Northeast states besides environment, double-tracking of the South West railway track, three linear projects and attempt by the BJP to make Goa a coal destination. I will raise all these issues in the Parliament,” he said.The TMC party has already announced its plan to contest the upcoming Goa legislative assembly elections in 2022 and has been working to build its base in the state. The party chief was in Goa from October 28 to October 30 and interacted with people from various walks of life.
Luizinho Faleiro has been named as Trinamool Congress' candidate for upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll.Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress on Saturday named its vice president Luizinho Faleiro as its candidate for the upcoming bypoll to a Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal.Mr Faleiro, the former chief minister of Goa, had quit the Congress and joined the TMC in September."We are extremely pleased to nominate @luizinhofaleiro to the Upper House of the Parliament. We are confident that his efforts towards serving the nation shall be appreciated widely by our people!" the TMC said on Twitter.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe Rajya Sabha bypoll is scheduled to be held on November 29.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
KOLKATA: The All India Trinamool Congress nominated its national vice president and former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro to the Rajya Sabha on Saturday. Faleiro, who quit the Congress party a few months ago, will be the voice of Goans in the Upper House of Parliament, said TMC in a statement. We are extremely pleased to nominate @luizinhofaleiro to the Upper House of the Parliament.We are confident that⦠https://t.co/VJhpteBoBV— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) 1636783428000The 70-year-old former Navelim MLA has been the face of the Mamata Banerjee-led party in Goa. However, sources within the party had maintained that TMC, which has decided to contest upcoming Goa elections, would not project Faleiro as the chief ministerial candidate. "I am thankful to all my fellow AITC party members and Mamata Banerjee for nominating me to the Rajya Sabha. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Goans at the national level and pledge to make Goans heard," said Faleiro. âWe are extremely pleased to nominate Luizinho Faleiro to the Upper House of the Parliament. We are confident that his efforts towards serving the nation shall be appreciated widely by our people,â said TMC in a statement. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has thrown its hat into the Goa assembly election, slated for early 2022, with its slogan Goenchi Navi Sakal (new dawn for Goa). With near zero presence in the state, the TMC has initiated a high decibel campaign, run mainly by political strategist Prashant Kishor's Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC). TMC has tried to project itself as an alternative to the Congress party and the BJP in Goa. The West Bengal unit has already started its campaign in parts of Salcete with Tennis champion Leander Paes holding corner meetings and interacting with locals. âThe party has done what it had promised by giving a stronger representation to Goa at the national level,â said TMC.
Panaji: West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Saturday appointed its Lok Sabha MP from Krishnanagar, Mahua Moitra, as its in-charge of the Goa unit, with immediate effect. In a press note issued by the partyâs general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to announce Moitraâs appointment, TMC said that it âlooks forward to a brighter future for Goa with TMC paving the way with courage and wisdomâ. âLooking forward to doing my very best,â Moitra posted on Twitter soon after her appointment was officially announced by the party. TMC has been trying to expand its footprint in Goa, and has already launched its poll campaign. With Moitraâs appointment coming the same day Navelim ex-MLA Luizinho Faleiro was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by TMC, political sources said that the moves indicated the seriousness of the party leadership in contesting the 2022 assembly elections in Goa, despite having zero presence in the state.
KOLKATA: With an eye on the 2022 assembly polls, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday appointed MP MP Mahua Moitra in-charge of the party's Goa unit with immediate effect. In a statement, the party said, "Our honourable chairperson Mamata Banerjee is pleased to appoint Mahua Moitra, (MP, Krishnanagar Lok Sabha) as the state in-charge of AITC Goa unit with immediate effect." Earlier in the day, the party nominated former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro for bypoll to a Rajya Sabha seat in West Bengal. Faleiro, who left the Congress to join the Mamata Banerjee camp in September, currently holds the post of TMC vice-president. Banerjee, the TMC supremo, had visited Goa last month and interacted with party workers and leaders there. (With inputs from agencies)
