MARGAO
Ahead of the bypoll for the Davorlim Zilla Panchayat seat, former TMC leader Leon Raikar on Wednesday embraced the Congress along with his workers at the South Goa district office.
Leon and his supporters were admitted into the Congress by district Congress chief Savio D’Silva in the presence of South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, party leaders M K Sheikh, Viriato Fernandes, Everson Vales and others.
Leon told the media that he had in the past worked for the success of the Congress party, but had left the party to join the TMC some months ago. “We have now realized that we have to keep the divisive force out. The BJP has won the Davorlim seat twice. We have to all join hands and bring the Congress back in Davolrim,” he said.
Saying that the people of the Davorlim ZP constituency are looking for the return of the Congress in the constituency, Leon underscored the need for the party to unitedly work to defeat the divisive forces.
Welcoming Leon into the party, district Congress president Savio said Leon has been a loyal Congress worker but had left the party for some reasons.
“We are glad that Leon has returned to the party fold. The Congress will be further strengthened with his entry,” he said while urging the party workers to work for the defeat of the BJP in the bypoll.
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha said the entry of Leon and panchas into the party has raised hopes for the Congress after the defection of the eight MLAs, saying that while the MLAs have left the party, the workers and base remain intact.
He said that Leon and his workers had worked for his success in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, even as he blamed the looters and liars in the party for allotting tickets to the candidates in the 2022 Assembly polls.
