the goan I network
MARGAO
With the Congress inducting former Benaulim MLA and arch rival Caitu Silva in an apparent bid to checkmate him in his own fiefdom, NCP Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao thundered that the Congress had never helped him, but on the contrary created hurdles for him and his proposal for an alliance.
He also slammed the Congress for ignoring daughter Valanka’s claim for the party ticket on grounds that she was not a member, but had no qualms in nominating yesterday’s BJP leader as Congress candidates in the bypoll.
Taking the Congress’ decision to induct Caitu in the Congress, Churchill said he has absolutely no problem with the Congress, reminding that he had never opposed Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha in his Benaulim constituency. “The Congress had never helped me, but only created hurdles. When I wanted to return to the Congress fold on the eve of the 2017 Assembly election, Congress leaders objected to my return. After I joined the NCP, the Congress opposed alliance with the Sharad Pawar party and now when I insisted that the Congress should forge an alliance with the NCP in lieu of extending support to Sardinha, they have brought in Caitu in the party. I have no problem if the Congress has brought Caitu in the party since my politics is centered on the people of Benaulim,” he said.
On the contrary, Churchill pointed out that the Congress leaders objected to Valanka’s candidature for the South Goa seat on flimsy ground that she is not a member. The party, however, moved with alacrity to give ticket to BJP leaders such as Mahadev Naik in Shiroda and Sudhir Khandolkar in Mapusa. He further added that the party has now welcomed Babush Monserrate in the Congress with open arms after lifting his suspension. “All this goes to show that the while the Congress has created hurdles for him politically, the party had accepted other leaders, including people from the BJP with open arms,” he said.
Saying that the Congress decision to welcome Caitu will not change his stand in respect of the ensuing election, Churchill said, “I had told Sardinha that I will not oppose him, but at the same had made it clear that I will also not come out to support him since I belong to the NCP.”
