Congress confident of winning Goa polls on its own

Congress in Goa today claimed that the party can win majority in the forthcoming state legislative assembly poll on its own, even as it believes that coalition partners would come as an added force.

Congress spokesperson in Goa Ramakant Khalap told reporters that the party can win over 30, out of the 40 seats, in the March 3 polls.

"We are completely confident of winning 25 seats with or without partners," Khalap said.

The party leader said that talks regarding the pre-poll alliance with the NCP and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), are underway, even as MGP had earlier clarified that it had stopped the alliance talks with Congress a long time back.

"NCP has been a valuable partner, while MGP has been with the party for the last five years. In these five years, we have been together and achieved something for the state of Goa. We are not here to shake that balance. That is why, the pre-poll alliance with them is being considered," Khalap said.

"There is a meeting in Delhi tomorrow to finalise the alliance with NCP," he said adding that Congress can get a majority on its own, even though alliance would be an added force.

Congress-NCP talks on the alliance are at an advanced stage with the latter asking for 10 seats. MGP has already begun talks with BJP for a pre-poll alliance, hinting to severe ties with Congress-led government any time in the run up for the polls.