Dinesh makes light of Congress debacle in civic body polls

NT NETWORK

Panaji

Making light of the humiliating defeat of Congress-backed candidates   in the elections to six local bodies, all India Congress committee secretary in-charge of Goa desk Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday said the civic poll outcome is not an indicator of the mandate that will be given at the 2022 assembly elections in Goa.

Congress-backed panels managed to save their face only in the Cuncolim municipality in the March 20 elections.

Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ on the debacle in the municipal polls, Rao said, “We have done well in a few areas. But you know how the local body elections are conducted… the party in the ruling uses so much money and everything. So this election doesn’t seem to be different. Assembly elections are totally
different.”

The outcome of the municipal polls is definitely not an indicator of what will happen during the assembly polls. It will be totally different scenario, he maintained. 

He said the Congress will put its best foot forward for the elections to the remaining five municipalities – Mapusa, Margao, Mormugao, Quepem and Sanguem.

Election to the five civic bodies will be held in April as directed by the Supreme Court.

“The Supreme Court has upheld the High Court’s order and now the BJP stands exposed. Illegalities were committed by the government as they didn’t follow rules and procedures. Anyway, we will fight. The Congress will highlight issues and fight the elections whenever they take place,” Rao said.

When asked if Pratima Coutinho’s exit from the Congress and entry into the Aam Aadmi Party is a setback for the grand old party, Rao said, “She had been with the Congress for so long. It’s unfortunate that she took that decision… I am sure she will soon realise that she took a wrong decision.”

On Coutinho blaming Congress veteran Luizinho Faleiro for her defeat in the Navelim ZP bypoll, Rao denied the charge and said the party leaders had given her full support.

“She (Pratima Coutinho) wanted to contest and we gave her our full support. Now if she wants to blame somebody else… you ought to accept the defeat… there is no point in blaming anybody else,” he remarked.