MARGAO
Ongoing road hot-mixing works in Benaulim has put the constituency in a spotlight, but for different reasons.
If newly-elected Aam Aadmi Party MLA, Venzy Viegas had stirred a hornet’s nest by saying he is denying himself the 10 per cent kickbacks from the PWD road contractors, outgoing MLA Churchill Alemao is back in action, conveying a message loud and clear, though he has been down in Benaulim after his defeat in the husting, he is still not out.
This became evident in the last two days when Churchill’s nephew Warren Alemao descended along with Churchill’s close aides in Benaulim to supervise the road hot-mixing works undertaken by the PWD across the constituency.
Armed with the work orders, Warren made it quite clear that all these roads works presently underway in Benaulim, at an estimated cost of around Rs 9.5 crore, were all proposed by Churchill Alemao.
And, he made it equally clear that while Churchill and his supporters have accepted the mandate handed out by the people of Benaulim in the 2022 elections, the outgoing MLA will play the role of constructive opposition in the constituency.
“I have come to inspect the road hot-mixing works on behalf of our ex-MLA Churchill Alemao. Road works amounting to Rs 9.5 crore are in progress across Benaulim constituency and all these works were proposed by the ex-MLA,” Warren said.
He added: “I and others have come here to inspect these workers to make sure these roads are done properly and complete before the onset of monsoons. All these works were proposed and planned by Churchill and he is keen that these works are completed before the monsoons as per his assurance given to the people of the constituency.”
That Warren preferred to take a dig at the incumbent MLA became evident when he said that his presence is to make aware and not believe in the social media that the roads have been sanctioned during their tenure.
While saying that the mandate given by the people will be respected, Warren, however, said that Churchill will play a constructive opposition in Benaulim. “We respect the mandate of the people. But, we want to say that the people of Benaulim will continue to remain in the hearts of the Churchill,” he added.
