the goan I network
MARGAO
Will Navelim MLA and All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary in-charge of the North East, Luizinho Faleiro, turn out to be the Congress candidate for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat?
The two-time former chief minister says he has not even given any thought to the idea of contesting the ensuing 2019 Lok Sabha election, expressing surprise over the reports emanating in political circles over his candidature. “Presently, I am representing Navelim constituency in the Legislative Assembly. Hence, I have not given any thought to the idea of contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha election from South Goa,” Faleiro told The Goan on Monday.
Political circles, however, are abuzz with speculation that the former chief minister may turn out to be the candidate for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat with a resurgent Congress sweeping the recently held Assembly polls in the Hindi heartland of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh.
Political observers say that Faleiro may be tempted to jump into the electoral fray in the ensuing election in the event he feels that the Congress could form the next government at the Centre, as he may be eligible for a berth in the government given his closeness to the mother-son duo of Sonia and Rahul.
Faleiro, many say, may take a call on contesting the ensuing election from South Goa as it is widely believed that the Congress may wrest the South Goa seat, which it had lost to the BJP in the 2014 election.
“It’s absolutely true that the mood favours the Congress and the party is on a comeback trail. However, let me make it clear that I have not decided anything on contesting the Lok Sabha election”, Faleiro asserted.
Faleiro, who had been in-charge of the North East, where the Congress had held the fort before his return to Goa politics around three years ago, is perceived
to be very close to the Gandhi family.
Local Congress leaders as well as political leaders in the ruling coalition, are of the opinion that it may not be at all difficult for Faleiro to get the ticket if he shows his willingness to throw his hat in the ring.
Presently, former South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha and Mahila Congress Chief Pratima Coutinho, and not to mention Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish
Chodankar are considered as Congress probable contenders for the South Goa Lok Sabha ticket.
While former MP Francisco Sardinha has made no secret of his intention to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha election from South Goa if given the party ticket, Mahila Congress chief Pratima Coutinho is also bracing up to stake claim for the ticket.
Sources say the GPCC chief may not be averse to throwing his hat in the electoral ring as Congressmen feel the ground reality favours the return of the Congress in South Goa.
