MARGAO
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao on Friday said he has requested the NCP leadership to decide on alliance with Congress by month end, while adding that his daughter Valanka will contest from Navelim irrespective of an alliance.
He said Valanka has already started her campaign for the Navelim seat. He said she would contest the election as an independent candidate if the Cong-NCP alliance does not materialise.
Addressing the media, the NCP MLA said he was called by party Supremo Sharad Pawar to Mumbai to discuss the alliance since he had given the party leadership 10-day deadline to decide on the issue. “The party leadership thought that I am quitting the NCP, but I have made it clear to the leaders that I will stand by the NCP and the party should field candidates in at least 26 Assembly seats if the Congress is ready to align with the party”, he said.
He added: “Party leaders will discuss with Congress leaders and we expect a decision before October end. If there’s no decision by month end, the NCP will go it alone in the coming election”.
When asked whether he has staked claim for daughter Valanka for the Navelim seat, Churchill said Valanka has already decided to contest from Navelim. “If the NCP is ready to nominate her on the party banner, it is fine. If not, Valanka will throw her hat in the Navelim election ring as an independent”, he said.
When his attention was drawn to the fact that Navelim seat was represented by Congress in last election, Churchill shot back “where’s the Congress MLA in Navelim. The seat is now open after Luizinho Faleiro joined the TMC”.
He said he has impressed upon the party leaders to take an early decision on the alliance since there’s hardly any time left to go to the people.
To a question, he said the NCP will stake claim for 10 seats as part of the alliance with the Congress.
