Panaji: Congress and TMC candidates are involved in horse-trading and discussed plans to change parties if need be post the election, revealed a video posted by a news channel. They also allegedly spoke about business opportunities, benefits and crores of money.
Congress leaders Savio d’Silva, Avertano Furtado and Sankalp Amonkar and TMC’s Churchill Alemao were allegedly in the video concerned. The news channel has since taken the video down.
In a tweet, the Aam Aadmi Party wrote, “Shocking news! Congress and TMC MLA caught red-handed taking money for defecting to BJP if they win the election.”
However, the Congress claims that the video is doctored. The party stated that the Aam Aadmi Party and BJP were trying to ‘defame’ them using a ‘doctored video’ released during the 48-hour silence period before polling.
In an official statement, Goa Congress said, “A conspiracy has been hatched by BJP-AAP duo to defame the Congress and three of the party’s office-bearers. With malafide intention, through a news channel called ‘Hindi Khabar’, they have released a fake, distorted and doctored video during the 48 hour silent period. This is in violation of The Representation of People’s Act.”
The statement adds, “They’re trying to subvert democracy by attempting to interfere with free and fair elections. AICC in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao, Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar and general secretary Sunil Kawthankar met with the chief electoral officer and have apprised him of the same and urged action against the channel and whoever is responsible for the doctored videos.”
Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “We have filed a complaint with the election commission against AAP. The AAP is trying to influence the polls by directly attacking our candidates. Both BJP and AAP state chiefs were present on the news show, their involvement is clear.”
Goa will vote on February 14. The votes will be counted on March 10.
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