the goan I network
MARGAO
In an interesting development, Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s emissaries on Thursday are believed to have spoken to NCP Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao over his silence in extending support to party South Goa candidate Francisco Sardinha. Even Congress leaders are hopeful that Goa NCP chief Jose Philip D’Souza may rally behind Sardinha in the run-up to the polls.
Sources in the know informed that Congress leaders from Delhi told Churchill that they will report the matter to the Congress president, even as the Benaulim NCP leader reportedly told them that he is yet to receive a green signal from the NCP bosses over extending support to the Congress.
The Congress leaders from Delhi, who had come down to the South Goa district office as part of the survey initiated by the Congress president in order to seek inputs from the constituencies called up the Benaulim MLA after they were briefed by local leaders that Churchill has so far not extended support to the congress candidate.
Immediately, one of the leaders spoke to the Benaulim MLA over the phone to find out why he has not yet joined the Congress candidate’s campaign when the NCP is in alliance with the Congress in Maharashtra.
The leader is believed to have told Churchill that he will report back to Rahul Gandhi as his exercise was aimed at seeking inputs on the ground situation across the constituencies.
When contacted, Churchill confirmed that the Congress leaders spoke to him telephonically over his stand in South Goa, but hastened to add that he has made it clear that he cannot extend support to the Congress candidate unless he is directed by the NCP leadership.
“Leave alone other issues, such as the Congress’ refusal to forge an alliance with the NCP in the 2017 Assembly election, but at least the NCP leaders should guide and advise the party in Goa how to go about the elections,” Churchill said.
In the meantime, local Congress leaders are hopeful that NCP Goa chief Jose Philip D’Souza will finally rally behind party candidate Francisco Sardinha in the coming election.
Sources in the Congress informed that Jose Philip is not averse to supporting the Congress party in a bid to avoid a split in the secular vote. And, he is believed to have convened a meeting of his close supporters at Vasco to take stock of the situation and act accordingly.
When contacted, Jose Philip D’Souza said he has called for an interaction with his close supporters to take stock of the ground reality and take a call on the coming election. “I will go by the sentiments of my workers after I have an interaction with them before taking a call. There’s a general feeling in Goa that there ought to be no split in the secular vote,” Jose Philip said.
