A day before the counting of votes, the marginalized players in the coastal state of Goa could emerge as the kingmakers in terms of a fractured mandate, as predicted by the exit polls.
While the Trinamool Congress is not commenting on the post-poll scenario, Ashok Tanwar, who was campaigning for the party in Goa, said, “People want change, but the Congress is unable to provide that option and the result is this.” Will prove , Our alliance in Goa will decide the course of action after the results are out.”
Trinamool Congress is in alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) in Goa. Sources said that the Trinamool leaders are not sure about which direction the MGP will head as the party is inclined towards the BJP and Trinamool will not support any move by the BJP.
In the event of a hung assembly, the Congress is reaching out to smaller parties in Goa as the BJP begins to strategize its campaign. Congress has sent Karnataka party chief DK Shivakumar to Goa to oversee the post-poll work in the state.
The Congress is wary of the BJP’s efforts for smaller parties and independent candidates. The party has reason to be apprehensive as the Congress, despite being the single largest party, could not form the government in 2017 as the party could not decide between Digambar Kamat and Luizinho Faleiro to be the chief minister. Now Faleiro has moved to Trinamool.
Sources say that the central leadership of the Congress will reach out to parties like Trinamool, NCP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), while Shivakumar will speak separately to the MLAs and try to handle the Congress swarm in the state.
The Trinamool is silent about any move and says that when the results are out, the party will decide what to do as it is at an equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress.
Congress sources said Shivakumar is going to camp in Goa for three days to ensure that the old party, which missed its chance to form the government in the last assembly elections, does not make the same mistake again. Sources said that Shivakumar will remain in Goa till the new government is formed.
Goa is likely to witness a hung assembly between the ruling BJP and the Congress, according to the ABP C-Voter exit poll. The fate of the state will depend on smaller parties like the Trinamool-MGP alliance and independents, who may emerge as kingmakers in the 40-member assembly.
read all breaking news, today’s fresh news And Assembly Election Live Updates Here.