the goan I network
MARGAO
A day after he created a flutter in political circles over plans to quit the Congress to join the BJP, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias on Friday asserted that he is neither quitting the Congress nor has been approached by the BJP to join the party.
He, however, came down heavily on the Goa Forward Party for blocking his development works in Cuncolim constituency, even going to the extent of saying that while outgoing BJP MLA Rajan Naik has cooperated in the execution of works, the GFP has been repeatedly trying to stop development works.
Incidentally, GPCC chief Girish Chodankar sympathized with the sentiments of the Cuncolim MLA, promising that the Congress Legislature Party and the GPCC will strongly rally behind Clafacio in Cuncolim against those blocking development in the constituency.
Flanked by GPCC chief Girish Chodankar and South Goa Congress district president Joe Dias, Clafacio said if he has plans to join the BJP, he would not have called for an open workers’ meeting. “In the past, MLAs have switched sides without consulting their workers. But since I am open hearted, I tried to clarify their doubts on media reports that I am planning to quit the Congress to join the BJP,” he said.
GPCC chief Girish said that the Congress Cuncolim MLA innocently told the workers at the Thursday meeting that he would consult them before taking a decision.
“This created doubts in the minds of the people, but Clafacio asked the question innocently. He is not involved in any political gimmicks,” Girish said.
Asserting that Clafacio is firmly with the Congress, Girish said certain vested interests worked overtime to tarnish the image of the Cuncolim MLA by spreading
false rumours that he is joining the BJP.
“No doubt, Clafacio was getting frustrated as his development works were being blocked. But, he is no way moving to the BJP,” Girish said, adding that the GPCC and the CLP would stand solidly behind the Cuncolim MLA and enable him to discharge his duties as a member of the Legislative Assembly.
