MARGAO
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lone MLA Churchill Alemao on Wednesday played Mamata Didi’s tunes, but kept his supporters and political observers guessing on his future plans, only announcing that he would join a new political party within two weeks.
The Benaulim MLA, however, was categorical in saying he is not ready for an alliance with the Congress if the NCP leadership decides to go for a tie-up with the Principal Opposition party.
After the expiry of his November 29 self-imposed deadline to unveil his future political career, Churchill called the media on Wednesday, but neither confirmed he is quitting the NCP nor saying whether he has drawn up plans to embrace the TMC.
All he said was that he would not be with a combination that includes the Congress party. He went on to assert that only NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and TMC chief Mamata Didi can take on the might of the BJP. He, however, had no answer when asked why he is planning to join a new party if he considers Sharad Pawar as a leader who can fight the BJP.
Addressing the media, Churchill said he has had talks with the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, but parried questions on whether he would join the TMC.
He launched an attack on the Congress leadership, saying the party is in league with the BJP. “The Congress is firmly opposed to the defectors, but has no qualms in having a tie-up with leaders, who had supported the BJP and were later thrown out. This only goes to show the Congress is working in connivance with the BJP,” he added.
Repeatedly asserting that he would not align with the Congress even if the NCP leadership decides to strike an alliance with the Congress, Churchill said he would join a new party after two weeks. “I will join the new party with thousands of my supporters at a function in Margao. I will announce my future plans on the day of my joining,” he added.
Asked whether he had any discussions with Mamata Didi to support his football team in the event he decides to join the TMC, Churchill shot back saying that he is quite capable of financing his football team and does not require the support of any political party.
