Congress joins hands with Vijai Sardesai's party in Goa, upsets TMC

GFP leader Vijai Sardesai took to Twitter to share a picture with Congress de facto number two Rahul Gandhi, revealing the two parties' alliance.

He tweeted, "Met Shri @RahulGandhi along with my colleagues @prasadgaonkr13 and @vinod_palyekar. We agreed to fight resolutely, wholeheartedly and unitedly on behalf of the people of #Goa to end the utterly corrupt, incompetent and undemocratic reign of @BJP4Goa #ChalYaFuddem!"

Sardesai was among the regional leaders whom the TMC was aiming to work with to keep the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) away from power.

Caught off-guard, TMC MP and Goa in-charge, Mahua Moitra, tweeted, "INC win 17 seats in Goa 2017, BJP won only 13. Yet while AICC’s Digvijay Singh “observed” , BJP sealed deal with GFP to form unholy govt. GFP suddenly on poll eve realises BJP is evil, hugs INC!   Come on Goa- you’re better than this!"

Hitting back at Moitra, the GFP has put up a tweet, "#GOANS ARE MUCH BETTER. They can tell the difference between those who have a track record of upholding their interests and #Kolkata imports who see #Goans as use-and-throw items to fulfil their leader’s selfish ambitions. Learn to write one word in correct #Konkani; then talk!"

However, Moitra's attack on GFP seems surprising as TMC national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, had earlier stated his party will fight the BJP in Goa alone.

"In Goa, Trinamool will fight it out alone. I hope that puts every speculation to rest," Banerjee had told IBNS.

The GFP, which was a part of late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government in Goa, pulled itself out of the alliance after its three ministers were dropped by Parrikar's successor Pramod Sawant.

In April this year, the GFP has also pulled itself out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) accusing it of anti-Goan policies.