By IANS,
Panaji : Differences seem to be brewing in the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition in Goa over seat-sharing arrangements in the state for the next general elections.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Subhash Shirodkar Friday announced that the Congress was gearing up to contest the North Goa constituency, two days after the NCP publicly staked claim to the seat during its party chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s visit.
Addressing a press conference, Shirodkar said the NCP announcement was “only for public consumption.”
“They are only energizing their cadre. No seat sharing talks have happened yet. The Congress is also gearing up to contest the seat,” he said.
Pawar, on his visit to Goa earlier this week, held several closed-door talks with the state party leaders to select a probable candidate for the two parliamentary seats in the state for the forthcoming polls.
Shirodkar said it would be no use to have seat sharing talks now.
“It is too premature. Let’s wait till the end of February. Nothing has been decided yet,” he said.
When reminded that the NCP has announced that it would be contesting the North Goa seat and has been meeting prospective candidates in that regard, Shirodkar said: “I am also preparing for the same seat. I have also had meeting with two or three likely candidates for the seat.”