MARGAO
In an interesting political development, former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao has finally severed his ties with the Mamata Didi-led Trinamool Congress (TMC).
While Churchill has made no bones of the fact that he had a meeting with NCP leader Praful Patel (Ajit Pawar) faction in Mumbai a day ago, he said no decision has been taken to the join the NCP (Ajit Pawar) party.
Churchill’s decision to part ways with the TMC assumes significance as it comes ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. Though he has not yet decided to throw his hat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election ring, Churchill has not ruled out the possibility of contesting the forthcoming polls.
Churchill along with daughter Valanka had embraced the TMC in the run up to the 2022 Assembly polls. The father-daughter duo, however, lost the election from Benaulim and Navelim Assembly constituencies respectively. When asked whether daughter Valanka has also quit the TMC, Churchill shot back saying Valanka is presently out of the country.
Churchill’s decision to quit the TMC was on expected lines since he had distanced himself from the Mamata Didi-led party since his defeat in the 2022 Assembly polls.
What however has come as a surprise to political observers was Churchill’s reported meeting with NCP Leader Praful Patel (Ajit Pawar) faction, which is aligned with the BJP in Maharashtra.
Confirming his meeting with Praful Patel, Churchill said ‘Praful Patel is not new for me. I was part of the NCP and was the lone party MLA in the Goa Legislative Assembly after having won the Benaulim assembly seat in 2017. We discussed the prevailing political situation in the country”.
Sources said Churchill has told his close aides that Praful Patel has invited him to join and lead the NCP (Ajit Pawar) party in Goa. Churchill, however, is believed to have raised queries how the NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction will go about the coming Lok Sabha polls and the party’s relationship with the BJP.
Sources informed that Praful Patel is believed to have maintained that the NCP (Ajit Pawar) party is willing to come up with a formulae, leaving freedom for the state units to take a call on joining the BJP-led NDA or to have its independent political course. “I have not yet decided whether to join the NCP or not. I will discuss the matter with my supporter before taking a call. I will seek more clarity on the NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction’s political future”, Churchill said.
