MARGAO
All eyes are focused on the filing of nomination papers for the Benaulim ZP by-poll on Wednesday which will finally decide who will be the common candidate to take on the INDI Alliance backed Aam Aadmi Party candidate Joseph Pimenta.
While Congress general secretary Royla Fernandes had a day ago announced her candidature for the by-poll, a group of persons from Benaulim comprising of Sarpanch Xavier Fernandes and fisherman Pele Fernandes on Tuesday proposed young Grrayfans Fernandes for the by-poll.
In another interesting development, Savio Alemao, son of former Minister Churchill has told the media that he would support the candidate backed by the people of Benaulim.
Social worker, Warren Alemao also told the media that efforts are on to field a consensus candidate who had a strong Congress ideology for the Benaulim by-poll.
Benaulim Sarpanch Xavier and fisherman Pele told the media that the June 23 election is not a Lok Sabha election, but a ZP by-poll. They said the people of Benaulim will support Grrayfans as the candidate of the people of Benaulim. “People of Benaulim had worked in unison to give a huge lead for Captain Viriato in the Lok Sabha. Similarly, the people will support the common candidate,” they said.
Savio Alemao said the people of Benaulim who had worked tirelessly for the Congress and got Viriato Fernandes elected as the MP are feeling dejected because the Benaulim ZP seat is left for the INDI Alliance. “I have heard that Benaulikars are all coming together under one banner to collectively field a candidate. I will support the candidate who has the backing of the people. The people’s candidate will receive my support,” he added.
Warren Alemao wondered how come the Congress has left the Benaulim ZP seat to the Aam Aadmi Party when the BJP is not in the fray.
