NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress (GPMC) has demanded tickets to contest from five constituencies during the 2017 Assembly elections. The GPMC president Sunita Verenkar has staked her claim to Sanquelim constituency to contest against the sitting MLA Dr Pramod Sawant.
Addressing the media in the presence of All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) president Shobha Ojha, Verenkar said that the women in the party have demanded to contest atleast in five constituencies. “However, winnability of the candidate will be the deciding factor to get the ticket to contest the election,” she added.
When asked about the constituencies that the GPMC would like to contest from, Verenkar stated that she has staked her claim to Sanquelim seat. “Obviously, I stake claim to contest from Sanquelim constituency and there are women leaders who are front contenders in their respective constituencies,” she said.
Women leaders in the GPMC pointed out that apart from Sanquelim, the wing of the Congress party will stake claim to Fatorda constituency under Ethel Lobo’s candidature.
With Santa Cruz MLA Babush Monserrate announcing his candidature from Panaji constituency, GPMC is staking claim to Santa Cruz constituency and nominate Helen Lourenco.
The sitting MLA from Taleigao Jennifer Monserrate would be a default candidate to be renominated to contest from her bastion.
Meanwhile, AIMC president Shobha Ojha said that the Congress women’s wing will raise the issues of BJP government and sexist remarks by ministers and MLAs during the forthcoming assembly elections.
“The sexist remarks made earlier by the chief minister and then subsequently by the ministers and again recently by another minister of this government, show the mindset of the people in the government,” she remarked.
She further said that the women of the country do not want to be dictated what they should wear and how they should behave. “We will not allow anyone or any party to destroy the diversity of the nation by imposing what they feel is right,” she added.