MARGAO
Even as suspense continues whether the Congress will leave the Benaulim Zilla Panchayat seat to INDIA bloc partner, Aam Aadmi Party to contest the June 24 by-poll, the State Congress leadership is veering to the stand that the party should not contest the Benaulim ZP by-poll to take the alliance forward.
The party, however, has decided to hold consultations with the Congress leaders from Benaulim before Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Amit Patkar makes an official announcement on the by-poll in a day or two.
If sources are to be believed, leaders of the Congress and AAP have met on Friday evening and have discussed the issue of the Benaulim ZP by-poll. The meeting is believed to have taken place after Congress Goa desk in-charge Manikrao Thakare pointed out during his visit to the State that the Congress favours continuance of the INDIA bloc in the State.
Sources in the Congress informed that party leadership is of the opinion that any decision by the party to contest the Benaulim by-poll may send a wrong signal to the opposition parties that the Congress only wanted other opposition parties to support the party in the recently held Lok Sabha polls. “The party is treading a cautious path since any decision to field a candidate in Benaulim just days after the Lok Sabha polls may be termed as unethical by the Alliance members,” informed a senior Congress leader.
The leader, however, said the leadership will hold consultations and seek their views of the Benaulim Congress leaders and workers before taking a final decision in a day or two.
Sources further pointed out that the Congress leadership apparently wants to clear the party’s stand on the Benaulim by-poll before the Lok Sabha election results on June 4.
By-election for the Benaulim Zilla Panchayat constituency has been necessitated following the disqualification of Aam Aadmi Party member Hanzel Fernandes after his carpenter caste certificate was declared as null and void by the High Court.
Social worker opposes alliance move for by-poll
MARGAO: Social worker and cousin of Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Warren Alemao has on Friday opposed any alliance for the Benaulim ZP by-poll on the ground that the AAP Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and the AAP ZP member Hanzel Fernandes has done zero development in Benaulim.
He warned that a front will be formed in Benaulim if the Congress does not field a candidate for the ensuing by-poll.
In fact, Warren told the media that he is ready to work and make sure Congress candidate is the next ZP representative of Benaulim constituency if Congress party decides to put its own candidate.
“We do not need an alliance for ZP elections, that’s the opinion of the people of Benaulim as AAP MLA and AAP ZP representative has done zero development in Benaulim constituency. We are waiting for Congress party to decide if they want their soul to remain in Benaulim otherwise a front will be created and will start working in Benaulim,” he said.
