Panaji: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday claimed that his party had a chance to topple the BJP-led government in Goa two years ago but did not do so as party chief Sonia Gandhi was opposed to such a course by engineering defections.
"We could have easily done what they have done in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand," Singh said, reportedly referring to the feelers from disgruntled BJP legislators.
"There were feelers during the first two years of the present regime (BJP government in Goa). Legislators were ready to defect," AICC General Secretary claimed.
He claimed Congress could have brought down the government (then led by Manohar Parrikar), but the party president categorically said they were not interested in engineering any defection.
"As we were defeated in the (Goa Assembly) polls, we should continue to play the role of constructive opposition rather than engineering defection," he said.
The Congress leader said the party has resisted the temptation of engineering defection in the ranks of BJP.
BJP with alliance partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party had won Goa elections in 2012 while Congress was reduced to a single digit number party in the assembly.
While the BJP-MGP alliance won 25 seats, Congress won in nine constituencies in the election.
Meanwhile, Digvijaya said Congress will have to be careful about people "carrying baggage of corruption" while giving tickets for next year's Goa Assembly polls.
"While giving tickets during Goa Legislative Assembly elections, we have to balance between young and old because of sensitivity of Goa politics," Singh said while addressing the state executive committee in a close-door interaction.
"We have to be careful about people who are carrying baggage of corruption," he said.
Singh, who was in the state to guide party leaders ahead of the Assembly polls due next year, said Congress will have to field fresh faces and those who are active.
In an indirect reference to the recent spat between the senior and young Congress leaders in the state, Singh said the party has always supported young people.
"Even I was made Pradesh Congress Committee President at the age of 38. We have always encouraged young people and Congress has been looking for younger faces," he said.
As far as the Goa polls are concerned, Singh said the block committee's recommendation would be given weightage.
"We shall decide on the candidates mostly on the recommendation made by the block committees. All the committees will have to submit their recommendations to Pradesh Election Committee by August 15 so that we can start the process of selecting candidates," he said.
Singh said the names of candidates in constituencies where there are not more than one option would be announced much in advance.
The elections for Goa Legislative Assembly are due before March next year.
Congress had lost in 2012 Goa polls where it got decimated to single digit number in the Assembly.
