‘No repeat of 2017 blunder in Goa’

NT Correspondent

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K.Shivakumar has expressed confidence that no prospective Congress MLA of Goa will switch loyalty after the announcement of Assembly election results of that state on Thursday.

Talking to reporters in Goa on Wednesday, he said all 40 candidates had taken an oath in front of former AICC President Rahul Gandhi that they would not change parties after the result. “I am optimistic that they will stick to their oath,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said people of Goa have opted for a change of government and the Congress will return to power in the State.

The Congress leader also said he was confident that the party will not make the mistake it had committed in the previous Assembly election of not forming the government despite emerging as the single largest party. ‘’This time we are fully prepared to face the situation effectively,’’ he added.

On the Goa CM expressing confidence of retaining power, Shivakumar said he would not react to the statements of other party leaders.

Asked whether he had been deputed since he was a master strategist, the PCC president said all are important here. Many leaders from Karnataka have arrived in Goa to help the local leaders on the eve of counting of votes.