Panaji: GFP announced that it will support Congress candidate Ketan Bhatikar for the Ponda byelection in keeping with the spirit of the alliance with Congress. The party, which held a meeting of its state executive, also said it will strengthen its presence in 25-30 constituencies.The party has also decided to hold a mega public meeting at Lohia Maidan on May 30 to mark Statehood Day and 10 years of the party’s formation.“In keeping with the alliance spirit, we have decided not to contest the Ponda election. We are with Congress in 2027 and that is why our party workers and party leaders will campaign against the BJP in Ponda,” said Mohandas Lolienkar, the party’s general secretary.The executive committee has clarified that its intention to strengthen the party’s presence in 25-30 constituencies does not mean that the party will contest 25-30 assembly constituencies in the 2027 assembly elections.Lolienkar said that a decision on which constituencies to contest will be made after discussions with Congress.“We want to strengthen the party because only if we strengthen the party will the alliance be strengthened, and if the alliance is strengthened, then the opposition will be strengthened and we will be able to form govt in the coming elections,” said organisational secretary Durgadas Kamat.
