MARGAO:
It s official. Three-time Benaulim Zilla Panchayat member Maria Rebello has finally decided to throw her hat in the Benaulim electoral ring for the 2017 Assembly poll.Maria s plan to contest the election from Benaulim indicates that she intends to cross swords against close aide and family friend, former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who is making a political comeback from Benaulim constituency in the coming election.Maria told the media in the city here on Wednesday that she would not buckle under any pressure, but will contest the coming poll from Benaulim. “I have started my campaign from Benaulim, which is my birth place. I was not supposed to contest, but people from across the social spectrum, including religious leaders, with whom I enjoy goodwill, have told me to go ahead and contest,” Maria said.Maria said that she was supposed to contest the 2012 Assembly election, but had to sacrifice after Churchill Alemao s daughter Valanka threw her hat in the electoral ring. “People wanted to support me last time too, but I had backed off because of Valanka. This time people asked me not to say no. They asked me to take a firm step and based on their blessings I have decided to go ahead and contest the poll,” she said.Replying to a question, Maria said she has already started her campaign and has promised to come out with her agenda ahead of the election. “Right now, I am going house to house. So far, the response has been encouraging in Benaulim village. My campaign will continue,” she said.Replying to another question, Maria firmly ruled out the question of withdrawing from the fray, saying she is firm on contesting the election. “I know certain vested interests are spreading news in the constituency that I will withdraw from the fray three months before the election. I want to tell these elements that Maria will not back out irrespective of the election result. There s no question of withdrawing from the fray,” she said, while sending a message loud and clear to the political big wigs planning to contest the election from Benaulim.Churchill Alemao and Maria have been close family friends over the years and are believed to have parted ways only a month ago after the three-time Zilla Panchayat member made it quite known to the former PWD Minister about her plan to contest the coming election from Benaulim.In fact, it is believed that Maria and Churchill parted ways after they had a marathon meeting at Maria s residence a month ago.
