Thursday, April 21 2005 09:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: Echoing the State units sentiments, Congress general secretary and in charge of Goa affairs Margaret Alva yesterday (Apr 20, 2005) said that her party favoured by polls and not dissolution of the Assembly.

"We are confident that there will only be by-polls and not fresh elections in Goa. We have demanded with the Election Commission (EC) that they announce the by-polls as soon as possible as the monsoons are approaching," Alva told reporters in Panaji.

Congress President Luisinho Faleiro, had on Tuesday (Apr 19, 2005) denied reports that the State unit was in favour of dissolution of the Assembly.

Expressing confidence that Congress would win all the seats, Alva said as far as seat sharing was concerned, when the dates for the polls are announced, her party would sit with their allies in the United Legislature Party and discuss the matter.

Criticising the Manohar Parrikar Government, Alva said there should be thorough investigation into the expenditure made on the International Film Festival of India, which was in Panaji last year (2004).