MARGAO
Did diverse reactions and signals from workers and well-wishers from Curtorim constituency, coupled with the fact that the general public sentiment was in favour of all like-minded people putting up an united fight against the BJP, prompted three-time MLA Reginaldo Lourenco to do a re-think on severing ties with the Congress, at least for the moment?
Reservations expressed by his close aides, including members of the clergy from certain quarters, also seemed to have weighed heavily on Reginaldo’s mind since last night, before he agreed for a media briefing with Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat and GPCC chief Girish Chodankar at his residence coinciding with his birthday to clear the air of suspicion on his future political plans.
The Congress top leadership in Delhi is also believed to have reached out to the MLA, with a plea to stay put in the party, reassuring to resolve all outstanding issues.
In fact, it’s a sheer coincidence that a second video of social activist, Fr Eremito Rebelo, the Parish Priest of Rachol, a village in Curtorim, did the rounds on the social media on a day when speculations were rife over Reginaldo’s imminent exit.
His long-time personal and political friend, Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai is also believed to have impressed upon the Congress MLA to see reason before taking a call. Sardesai, who came to wish Reginaldo at his residence, went into a huddle with the MLA, and is believed to have told the Congress legislator to understand the public sentiment and join hands to unitedly take on the BJP in the coming polls.
Sources in the know informed that Reginaldo’s exercise in interacting with his workers, supporters and well-wishers on his political future, reportedly evoked mixed reactions. While speculations on his imminent entry into the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and reports that the three-time MLA may be projected as AAP’s Chief Ministerial candidate may have not gone down well with Reginaldo’s well-wishers outside Curtorim, many a close worker and supporter from within the constituency, were believed to have raised questions on the acceptability of non-Congress, non-BJP parties in a constituency such as Curtorim, considered a Congress stronghold over the years. In fact, his well-wishers are reported to have maintained that it may not be difficult to retain the seat on the Congress banner.
