Sanguem Independent MLA Prasad Goankar joined Congress on Sunday
Gomantak Times
After briefly flirting with TMC, Independent MLA Prasad Goankar on Sunday, January 10. joined the Congress ahead of the 2022 Goa Assembly elections.
The Sanguem MLA submitted his resignation to the Goa Assembly Speaker before joining the Congress along with his supporters, including his brother Sandesh in the presence of Dinesh Gundu Rao.
"People of the state are not happy. We will form a new team in Congress and Congress will form the next government in Goa," Goankar said.
Dinesh Gundu Rao expressed confidence on Goankar's induction and said Party will "win 25 plus seats" in the elections. “With Gaonkar joining the Congress party, it has further strengthened the party in Sanguem,” Rao said.
Goankar was in talks with Congress for a long time. However, in October, the talks derailed and his brother and supporters joined TMC and extended support to Mamata Banerjee-led party.
“I had extended my support to Mamata Banerjee-led party and my brother and hardcore supporters had joined them. As we worked for a few days with the TMC, we realised that certain decisions and steps taken by them were not in the interest of Goa.”
On November 30, 2021, Gaonkar along with the Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai, GFP MLA Vinoda Paliencar had met the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and had pledged support to the Congress party.
The Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in the Goa on February 14.