Congress leaders at the Benaulim block Congress meeting on Sunday. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Benaulim Congress workers on Sunday reminded the party’s top leaders P Chidambaram and Dinesh Gundu Rao that the constituency is a stronghold of the party, sending a strong message to the leadership not to ignore the constituency in the coming polls.
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha also pointed out that Benaulim had given him a huge lead in the 2019 Lok Sabha election and urged the workers to stand by the candidate fielded by the party in the ensuing polls.
P Chidambaram, however, sounded non-committal on Congress contesting in Benaulim. He said that two views have come to the fore for and against alliances with like-minded parties.
“We are getting battle ready in the all the 40 constituencies and there is no exception. If necessary, we will fight in all the 40 constituencies”, he added.
Other Congress leaders, including Goa desk in-charge, Dinesh Gundu Rao was not clear on if party would contest from Benaulim. Dinesh, however, urged the party workers to gear up for the ensuing battle.
P Chidambaram assured the people of Benaulim that the Congress will stick to the principles of secularism in the party and also provide a secular government when it comes to power in 2022. He called upon the people to join hands with the party to put the chapter of defections to an end. “Goa has earned a bad name because of defection. Let there be no defections in the state. The mistake of 2017 will not be repeated again”, he reassured.
Local Congress leaders Edwin Fernandes Menino D’Silva, Bosco Rodrigues and Royla Fernandes pointed out that Benaulim is the stronghold of the Congress. Menino made a strong case to put an end to defections, even suggesting that the candidates should be made to swear in temples and churches promising that that they will not defect.
Bosco said Congressmen are facing an embarrassing situation in the constituency to the fact that the party cannot retain their MLAs once elected.
Former MLA Mickky Pacheco proposed a vote of thanks. Social activist Gina Pereira was also present. Opposition leader, Digambar Kamat, Working president Alexio Sequiera also spoke, GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar, district Chief Joe Dias, MK Sheikh were present.
