from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jul 7: Dismissing any threat to Digamber Kamat-led government in the state, Goa's two major regional outfits - United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) and Save Goa Front (SGF) have begun talks of merger.

"The talks are on... We felt that there is no scope for two regional parties in the state," former town and country planning minister Atanasio Monserratte, the lone UGDP legislator in the 40-seat-Goa legislative assembly, stated.

The former Congressman Churchill Alemao-led SGF has also confirmed 'the talks'. "Yes... It's being discussed," Sidhanath Buyao, founder president of SGF confirmed. The merger will not affect the Congress-led alliance though SGF, with its two legislators, have given outside support to the government formation.
 
"I don't see any threat to the Congress government. The move is to strengthen the regional forces and not to destabilise anything," Monserratte said. The 13-year-old UGDP, which once saw Churchill Alemao, taking over its reins, had initiated talks with the newly formed SGF.

"The talks failed due to several reasons. We would have managed to get more seats, if there was a pre-poll seat sharing," UGDP spokesman Prashant Naik said.