Goa Congress chief says party will win 24-26 seats

Within half an hour party MLAs will decide CM: Girish Chodankar

Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar with party leader Rahul Gandhi during a press conference, in Panaji, Goa. File | Photo Credit: PTI

Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar on Wednesday said his party would choose a chief minister within half an hour if it wins the Assembly polls, results of which will be announced on March 10.

In an exclusive interview with PTI, Mr. Chodankar said the Congress and allies would win 24-26 seats in the 40-member House, polling for which was held on February 14.

“I can assure you that within half an hour, all the MLAs of the Congress will decide their leader. We will also take our alliance partners into confidence. The entire Goa knows who is the Congress' choice for CM,” he said, possibly hinting at senior leader Digambar Kamat.

“I will not name anyone right now as it is the right of MLAs to choose their leader," he added.

‘No defection fears’

The Congress had emerged as the largest party in the 2017 Assembly polls but the BJP managed to form a government with allies, following which several MLAs from the Congress switched over to the ruling side.

Mr. Chodankar said there were no defection fears this time as the Congress had chosen candidates after proper scrutiny.