MARGAO
Political bigwigs and families in high-profile Benaulim constituency seem to be eyeing the
Congress party, and the party ticket as well, ahead of the crucial 2017 Assembly election due less than a year from now.
Months after former PWD minister, Churchill Alemao expressed his willingness to return back to
the Congress fold in the event the party leadership nominates him for the Benaulim seat, Alemao’s arch political rival, VarcaÂ-based Pinto family, too appears to be making concrete moves to renew their ties with the Congress.
Former Varca sarpanch, Anthony Pinto confirmed to The Goan about his plans to renew his membership with the Congress party in the immediate future.
The Goan understands that Anthony’s decision comes after the Pinto Brothers, comprising
Nazario, Gabriel and Anthony, had a lengthy meeting with Goa Pradesh Congress Committee
president, Luizinho Faleiro at his Borda residence. The three brothers were accompanied by their
close ally, All India Congress Committee secretary, Girish Chodankar.
After the marathon meeting, Anthony has agreed to renew his membership with the Congress party and contribute his time and energy in strengthening the party base in Benaulim constituency. The
decision regarding both Nazario and Gabriel embracing the party will be taken at a later date.
Sources said though the GPCC president did not promise the Pinto family of alloting Anthony the
Benaulim ticket in the coming poll, the family is hopeful that Anthony, with his rich experience and
goodwill of the people, will bag the Congress nomination from Benaulim.
“Yes, I have decided to renew my Congress membership. The question of joining the Congress does not arise because I had never left the party to join any other party,” Anthony said.
"Many people had approached me to join their respective parties, but I have preferred to choose the Congress. In the last election, I stayed away only because of local Congress leaders, and not because of the party. I hope the Congress leadership will allot tickets to the right candidates, and in advance,” he added.
The Goan understands that the Pintos “ who had a running political battle with the Alemao
clan over the years “ is believed to have called on Benaulim Block Congress president, Edwin
Barretto and discussed plans regarding the Congress membership.
Edwin confirmed to The Goan about Anthony’s plan to renew his Congress membership, while
welcoming the decision.
“I welcome the decision of the Pinto Family to strengthen the Congress party in Benaulim. The question as to who will bag the Congress ticket to contest the election on the party banner will be decided later by the party leadership,” Edwin said, who himself is a strong contender for the Benaulim Congress ticket.
AICC general secretary Girish Chodankar said the return of the Pinto family into the Congress
schemes of things has almost been finalized after the meeting with the Congress president,
Luizinho Faleiro.
When The Goan contacted former PWD minister, Churchill Alemao on the plans by his arch political rivals to get into the Congress party, he said he has no comments to offer, but reiterated his
decision to contest the coming election on the Congress banner if the party gives him the Benaulim
ticket.
“I have maintained from day one that I will either contest the 2017 Assembly election from
Benaulim either on the Congress ticket or as an independent. Till date, I have not officially
approached the Congress party to return back to the party-fold, though in the past I had discussed
the matter with GPCC chief, Luizinho Faleiro. If the Congress does not want to give me the ticket
to contest from Benaulim, I will certainly contest the seat as an independent,” Churchill asserted.
