MARGAO
Under the scanner of the rebel Congress group for some time now, Quepem Congress MLA Altone D’Costa has become the first Congress MLA to take a firm stand that the oath taken at the Mahalaxmi Temple, Holy Cross Bambolim and the Masjid is sacred, insisting he would do nothing that would displease God and the people who elected him to the Goa Legislative Assembly.
That’s not all. The Quepem MLA said he does not think that any of the 11 Congress MLAs would take a decision contrary to what they had pledged before the Almighty and go against the wishes of their voters.
Saying the Congress MLAs are all God fearing, Altone said that is the very reason why the Congress candidates had gone to the Mahalaxmi Temple, the Holy Cross at Bambolim and the Masjid to swear before the Almighty that they will never quit the Congress if elected.
Speaking to The Goan on the sidelines of a function at Hotel Majestic here on Sunday morning, Altone reminded that the people of Goa were sad and deeply hurt after the 10 Congress MLAs had ditched the party by forming a group to join the BJP for power during the last term. “This time round, Congress leaders felt that candidates contesting on the party banner should swear on God that they will not leave the party, if elected. Since the 11 Congress MLAs have been elected in the election, I am of the firm stand that we should do nothing that would displease God. For God is above human beings”, he said.
When questioned whether he would honour the oath taken before the Holy Cross, Mahalaxmi Temple and the Masjid, Altone shot back “definitely, I will honour the pledge. And, I am confident the remaining 10 party MLAs will also honour the promise. We are all God fearing”.
Making his stand clear that he is not part of any move to quit the Congress to join the BJP, Alton further said that people had elected him on the Congress banner and he would stand by the people of Quepem come what may though he will be in the opposition for the next five years. “There are certain principles and ethics we politicians have to follow. We have to be responsible to the people who have elected us. Our ancestors and elders have handed over to us certain principles and ethics”, he said, making it clear that he will stand by the principles in his political life.
He added: “Let me make it categorically clear, I will stand by the Congress for the next five years as per the mandate of the people. There’s no question of joining any group to join the BJP”.
Alton’s public stance on defection assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of reports that a section of rebel leaders have been making desperate attempts to woo him to change sides and join the BJP. In fact, sources pointed out that having mustered the support of seven MLAs, the rebel group have been desperately trying to woo Alton towards them with the hope of forming a two-third group before merging with the BJP.
