P Chidambaram, who is the Congress’ senior election observer for the Goa Assembly polls, hit out at the Trinamool Congress for its barbs at the Congress for not forging an alliance with it, saying the party continued to poach Congress leaders, despite making an offer of a tie-up.

The senior Congress leader further said he received no instructions from the party leadership to hold talks with the TMC.

When asked about the TMC attacking Congress for not forging a tie-up with it, Chidambaram said he is not able to understand the TMC’s position.

“They entered Goa a few months ago and my distinguished friend, Mamata ji, declared in Goa that TMC had formed an alliance and any other party was welcome to join their alliance. The General Secretary of TMC declared that TMC will contest all 40 seats. Then, they lured Mr Luizinho Faleiro, Congress MLA, to the TMC,” Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram recounted how during a meeting with TMC’s Vice President on December 24 the latter suggested that the two parties should work together in Goa.

However, the senior Congress leader expressed displeasure over TMC poaching leaders, sarpanches other leaders etc.

In an interview with PTI, he also said that the grand old party would announce a chief ministerial name for Goa before or after the elections after consulting all the candidates.

Asserting that the contest in Goa is between the Congress plus Goa Forward Party and the BJP, he expressed confidence that his party will win.

Asked why the Congress was not able to tie up with other Opposition parties especially the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Shiv Sena in Goa, Chidambaram asserted that they “will remain friends” and after the elections, the Congress would continue to explore opportunities to “work together” with them.

The Shiv Sena and the NCP had earlier this month announced that they would contest the Goa elections together.