South Goa Congress chief Savio D’Silva accompanies Velim sitting ZP member Julio Fernandes during nomination filing. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Congress leaders were conspicuous by their absence as party candidates, sitting Velim ZP member Julio Fernandes and Sanjay Velip for the Guirdolim seat, filed their nomination papers before the Returning Officers on Monday.
Unlike the BJP and AAP candidates, who were accompanied by their MLAs and other party leaders, neither the top leaders of the legislative wing nor the party organisation turned up at the District Collectorate to accompany Julio and Sanjay before the Returning Officer.
While the sitting member Julio was accompanied by South Goa District Congress president Savio D’Silva, Sanjay Velip filed his nomination paper in the presence of Cuncolim Block Congress president Assis Noronha.
Asked why party leaders, including Leader of Opposition and Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao, did not turn up at the office of the Returning Officer, Cuncolim Block president Noronha said Yuri was preoccupied with party work.
When the same question was posed to South Goa District Congress chief D’Silva over the absence of party leaders when sitting Velim ZP member Julio filed his papers, he said South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes was preoccupied with the filing of nomination papers by party candidates for the Sancoale and Cortalim seats.
The District Congress chief exuded confidence that Julio will win with a thumping majority since the people have understood that Congress is the only party which works for the betterment of all sections of society. Referring to the presence of independents in the fray for the Velim ZP seat, Savio cautioned the people to ascertain the forces behind the independents.
