Summary:
Panaji: With only two days left for filing of nominations, Congress is still struggling to finalize the nitty-gritties of an alliance or seat-sharing with its likely allies - Goa Forward Party (GFP) and United Goans Party (UGP). Congress' negations with GFP and UGP have changed contours, with a rider of friendly fights and seat-sharing being introduced, but the parties have not reached any conclusive agreement over candidates. The picture of an alliance has become murkier with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) moving away from negotiations.Asked if Congress has done away with the NCP, Chodankar said the party has already announced its candidates, signalling that there will be no coalition with NCP.NCP leaders have charged Congress for playing 'dirty games' with them by dropping them like a "hot potato". The long-drawn talks, which were initiated more than a month ago, gained momentum after the Election Commission of India fixed assembly elections on February 4.All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Digvijaya Singh, who arrived in Goa on Monday, had consultations with party leaders, but nothing has been finalized yet, AICC secretary Girish Chodankar said, when asked about the status of a possible alliance with GFP and UGP.Till date, Congress has announced the names of 34 candidates and is expected to declare its arrangement for balance seats on Tuesday, besides the status of an alliance..