Cong high command may do away with GPCC polls

It may be recalled that the poll scheduled for Saturday was postponed after one of the contesting candidates, John Fernandes, complained to the Pradesh Returning Officer, Sudha Joshi, that he was denied free access to party delegates. A ministerial group backing a rival candidate had held about 25 delegates in captivity in a city hotel who were being forced to vote under duress, he had charged.

The contest for the top GPCC post is on between Fernandes, Shantaram Naik and Nirmala Sawant. While Naik8217;s candidature is known to be backed by Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane, Sawant has the backing of the dissident camp led by Dr Wilfred D8217;Souza.

In a message faxed to the high command, Sawant has said that Fernandes8217; allegations were true. She is expected to travel to Delhi later this week to place the facts before the high command.

Brushing aside the charges, Naik told The Indian Express that his rivals had deliberately accused him of foul play as he had better chances of winning the polls.