Churchill’s daughter Valanka addressing a meeting of supporters at the Rumdamol Housing Board in Navelim.
MARGAO: Is the Varca-based Alemaos eyeing Navelim again in the 2022 Assembly election? Or, has Churchill Alemao set the tone for bargaining with the Congress to leave Benaulim and other seats for the NCP in the coming polls? And, will Churchill’s daughter Valanka lock horns with Congress veteran Luizinho Faleiro despite the two families burying the hatchet just before the 2017 Assembly election.
These and other questions have brought Navelim in sharp political focus as the NCP lone MLA Churchill Alemao representing Benaulim on the other side of river Sal on Thursday announced Valanka’s candidature for the Navelim seat.
In fact, at a time when there seemed no dearth of candidates eager to throw their hat in the electoral ring in the battle for Navelim in 2022, Churchill’s announcement of daughter’s candidature has only added to the confusion and has thrown up a host of questions in Navelim countryside.
Churchill pointed out that NCP will not stake claim for the Navelim seat and that daughter Valanka will decide whether to contest or not if the Congress-NCP forge an alliance has only left political observers to wonder if the Benaulim MLA is on a trip to blackmail the Congress to keep away from Benaulim or face his candidates everywhere, including the constituency of the Congress veteran.
Churchill, however, begged to differ. “Where’s the question of blackmailing the Congress party. I have no problem if there’s no Cong-NCP tie-up. I am not dependent on leaders, but the people of Benaulim for my success. Valanka will contest from Navelim since Luizinho has said he is not contesting the election in 2022”, he said.
Churchill had locked horns with Luizinho Faleiro on the Save Goa Front in 2007 and emerged triumphant as he managed to stop the former Chief Minister’s free run in Navelim. Churchill, however, could not retain the seat in 2012 when he was defeated by goalkeeper-turned-politician Avertano Furtado.
Sources said Valanka had made her presence in Navelim some time back. She, however, in the presence of Churchill, had her first meeting at the Rumdamol Housing Board recently, raising eyebrows in political observers on the Alemao’s political plan in the constituency.
Will remain in fray even if Cong
and NCP collaborate: Valanka
MARGAO: Saying she will contest the Assembly election from Navelim irrespective of the fate of the Congress-NCP alliance, Valanka Alemao said she has decided to throw her hat in the electoral ring only after being told by Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro that he will not contest the coming polls.
Making it clear that there will be no looking back now since she has gone about her campaign, Valanka said she would remain in the Navelim fray even if the Congress and the NCP stitch an alliance.
She, however, said she is treading a cautious path to ensure that her father Churchill and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro do not come face to face again over politics. “My father and Luizinho had a bitter political past before they decided to bury their hatchet. I do not want them to come face to face again”. Valanka said.
When suggested that the Alemaos must have made the announcement about her candidature just as a bargaining mechanism or to blackmail the Congress to sort out the alliance tangle, Valanka shot back “my decision to contest from Navelim is not to get the Congress to the negotiating table to accept the NCP alliance offer. We are not blackmailing anyone”.
Will take right decision at
appropriate time: Luizinho
MARGAO: Keeping everyone guessing over plans to seek reelection from Navelim in 2022, Congress veteran and sitting MLA Luizinho Falerio has said he will take an appropriate decision at the appropriate time on the coming polls.
“My job has been to do the work of the people who have placed their trust in me. I will tell the people of Navelim about my future at the right time”, Faleiro told the media, once again politely declining to throw light on the often asked question, whether he would seek reelection from Navelim in 2022.
BJP’s dilemma: To contest
or back an independent?
MARGAO: The BJP appears still undecided how to go about in the 2022 election to Navelim. And, so is former Minister Avertano Furtado and Navelim ZP member Cipru Cardozo.
It’s unclear if the BJP will test the political waters in Navelim in 2022 or will prefer to back an independent candidate against the Congress.
Former MLA Avertano Furtado appears undecided on 2022. ZP member Cipru, sources say, is not averse to contesting the polls, but is undecided whether to contest as an independent or under a party banner.
AAP leader Pratima Coutinho, besides Antonio Alvares and Digvijit Chawan are the candidates who have kicked off their campaign for Navelim in 2022.
Churchill recalls how
PC’s aim in 2007 to
defeat him fell flat
MARGAO: Churchill on Thursday recalled that Congress leader P Chidambaram had come down to Goa to defeat him in the 2007 Assembly election, but his people ensured his victory in Navelim.
“Chidambaram came thrice to Navelim along with Kamal Nath in support of Luizinho. But I got elected because I was supported by the people. If I seek reelection in 2022 from Benaulim, I will get reelected only if the people vote for my candidature. I have faith in the people of Goa. I have my support base of 4000 voters in every constituency”, he said.
He added: “I can get my candidates elected in Nuvem and Velim. And, if there is no alliance with the Congress, I will field a candidate in Curtoirm as well”.
Churchill demanded that the government hand over the Sidhi Naik death case to the CBI for investigations, suspecting murder.
