Congress winds up campaign with show of strength
BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28 The Congress wound up its fortnight long electioneering with a colourful show of strength at the Lohia Maidan here on Sunday, as a galaxy of party leaders putting up an united front in support of Francisco Sardinha. Be it Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, Home Minister Ravi Naik, NCP Chief Dr Wilfred de Souza, Taleigao MLA Babush Monseratte, Ministers Joaquim Alemao, Alexio Sequeira and Babu Azgaonkar, NCP MLA Nilkant Harlarnkar, former MLAs Luizinho Faleiro and Subhash Shirodkar, former MPs Eduardo Faleiro and Ramakant Angle, AICC Secretary Sanjay Bapna and others shared the platform by leaving aside their political differences. The BJP came under sustained attack from the Congress leaders, including Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat and Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar, who lambasted Manohar Parrikar for stooping low during the campaign. Leading the attack was Chief Minister, who said the BJP is not a party with a difference and urged the Goan electorate to teach the BJP a lesson in the ensuing hustings. The BJP had received a slap in the June 2 polls and later when they tried to dislodge my government. Slap them on their faces for the third time on October 31 and show them their place, Kamat said, amidst thunderous round of applause from the gathering. Refering to Parrikars statement that Goa has an illiterate CM, Kamat shot back I may not have got the education like Parrikar, but certainly I know what is good and bad for Goa and its interests and asked Parrikar not to fool the people with false promises. Panchayat Minister, Babu Azgaonkar cautioned the Goans against the diabolic plan hatched by the BJP and its organisations to communalise Goan society and asked the people to rally behind Sardinha. Urban Development Minster, Joaquim Alemao asked his detractors within the Congress not to doubt his credentials when he has sacrificed for the Congress party. Let us see which leader gives maximum lead for the party, he said and described Sardinha as a straight-forward politician. Former MLA Subhash Shirodkar said Sardinhas victory would help Goa to demand special economic status for Goa.Eduardo Faleiro said Sardinha has good chance of becoming an Union Minister and urged the people to give the Congress a thumping majority, while Luizinho Faleiro said Sardinha would perform as a good MP. Francisco Sardinha, Home Minister Ravi Naik, PCC vice-president M K Sheikh, PCC general secretary Vijay Sardessai and others also spoke. Unlike the BJP meeting, Congress leaders mobilised the people to attend todays meeting as evident by the huge turnout. http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=3519&cid=26 Sanny de Quepem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
