Parleys and overtures by various political parties in Goa began in full swing after exit polls showed the state could see a hung assembly following counting of votes on Thursday.
While various Congress leaders talked of reaching out to non-BJP outfits for a tie-up, the party has moved to prevent poaching of its winning candidates.
Media reports said the Congress shifted all 37 of its candidates to a resort in north Goa on Tuesday evening to prevent the BJP from reaching out to them. The Times of India reported the Congress would allow its candidates to leave the resort only on Thursday, apparently, when trends are clear.
Sunil Kauthankar, a general secretary of the Goa Congress unit, claimed the party candidates had voluntarily decided to go to the resort. “We have not forced any candidate to stay over (at the resort). They voluntarily decided to stay together... Not correct to say that we are keeping a hold on our leaders because leaders have come from other states also,” Kauthankar told ANI.
Kauthankar added “Strategy we've adopted is complex and comprehensive. We're very confident that all our candidates are sticking together. Got strong response from other political parties who have fought against BJP... [We are] confident of forming government tomorrow itself.”
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant poked fun at the Congress on Tuesday for moving its candidates to the resort. “I think the Congress party always has fear in their mind. They fear that the candidates whom they chose this time will run away. That is why they have started resort politics,” Sawant said.
The Congress was the single-largest party in the 2017 assembly polls, but the BJP managed to stitch together a coalition to form the government. By December 2021, the Congress's count of MLAs dipped to just 2, as the party was hit by a string of defections and resignations.