Faleiro was addressing a press conference after party candidate Surendra Furtado filed his nomination before the Presiding Officer today. Furtado is the mayor of Panaji.

"The BJP-led government had promised that they will shift the offshore casinos, but now they have withdrawn from their assurance. There are so many women's NGOs, which are protesting against these casino vessels.

Moreover, these casinos are a nuisance in the scenic Mandovi river," the Goa Congress chief said.

However, responding to a query, Faleiro admitted that it was his party that was responsible in letting the casinos operate in the river.

"But that does not give the present BJP-led government a licence to let these vessels continue there," he said.

According to him, shifting of casinos would be a major poll issue for the upcoming Panaji by-election scheduled for February 13.