Cong to take call on poll alliance in Goa before October

Congress will take a decision on formation of an alliance with "like-minded" parties for the forthcoming Assembly elections before October, state party president Luizinho Faleiro said here today.
"There was a detailed discussion on the issue of alliance with like-minded parties for upcoming Goa polls. But we have decided to take a call on this by September 30," he told reporters after the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee held a detailed discussion on the alliance.
Some Congress MLAs had recently raised the demand for the "pre-poll tie up with like-minded political parties in the state."
Faleiro said his party would like to form next government in 2017 by clinching absolute majority in the 40-member House.

Hinting that Congress was ready to accommodate leaders from other parties with the identical ideology in its fold, Faleiro said, "Goa being a small state needs unity of like-minded secular forces. Those who want a better and stable government should join hands and come under Congress. The election should be fought under the Congress leadership".
Faleiro, a former chief minister, however maintained suspense over the demand for a grand alliance.
"My mission is to win the election with unity of secular forces under Congress. However, the party will like to have a clear cut majority in Goa post 2017 polls to avoid the situation like in Uttaranchal and Arunachal Pradesh," he said, adding BJP tried to commit murder of democracy and the Constitution of India in both the states.