Battle for Congress ticket intensifies amongst local players; \'All clear\' for Clafacio; Joaquim Alemao, Adv John Monteiro upset
Joaquim Alemao, former Cuncolim MLA:
How can someone declare a candidate without following the due party procedure. Has the party leadership abandoned the laid down procedure of inviting names of candidates for the party ticket?
I am a loyal Congress soldier and I am very much in the race for the Congress ticket
My performance as an MLA and minister is well known. Moreover, people of Cuncolim have given me a mandate in the recently held Cuncolim civic body election
If the GPCC is blind and cannot see my achievement, I am confident the High Command would see the ground reality and give me the ticket
...........
Adv John Monteiro, arch rival of Moti-Clafacio combine:
Who has empowered Moti Desai to declare Congress party tickets for the ensuing election?
Moti has no right in Cuncolim constituency since he is in charge of Canacona and not of Cuncolim constituency
Moti does not have the right to recommend candidate for the party ticket in Cuncolim
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
The battle for the Cuncolim Congress ticket has intensified amongst the local players with the GPCC Chief Luizinho Faleiro’s camp giving the go ahead signal for strong contender, Clafacio Dias to start work in the constituency ahead of the 2017 Assembly poll, and the move coming in for strong opposition from two other ticket claimants “ former MLA Joaquim Alemao and Adv John Monteiro.
What has flared up the race for the Congress ticket in Cuncolim was the impressive meeting held by Clafacio during the weekend and the statement made by Congress vice-president Moti Desai at the meet stating that the party will support the new faces figuring in the Congress party magazine for tickets in the coming election. Clafacio had called the meeting of his supporters and well wishers, including the sarpanchas, panchas and zilla member from Cuncolim constituency, besides former Cuncolim Municipal Council Chairperson Landry Mascarenhas on Saturday to drum up support for his candidature. Clafacio’s Cuncolim meeting also assumed significance as it comes against the backdrop of his interaction with AICC general secretary in-charge desk, Digvijay Singh along with the PCC chief Luizinho Faleiro last week.
While Moti Desai reiterated what he stated at Clafacio’s meeting, both Joaquim and Adv John Monteiro asserted that Moti or any other party leader has no right to announce party tickets, demanding to know whether the party’s laid down practice of recommending candidates right from the block level, have been thrown to the winds by the Congress vice president.
Moti, however, remained unfazed. “I have not stated anything wrong. I had only asked the Cuncolim Congress workers to support the faces, which had found a mention in the Congress party magazine. Moreover, the party leadership in Delhi has now suggested that prospective candidates should be groomed at least a year prior to the election to keep the candidate and the party in good stead. Those who have questioned me for my statement should understand that I am the PCC senior vice president.\"
Adv John Monteiro and arch rival of the Moti-Clafacio combine, however, has sought to know who is Moti Desai to declare Congress party tickets and who has empowered him to select and distribute tickets for the coming election. “Moti has no right in Cuncolim constituency since he is in charge of Canacona and not of Cuncolim constituency. He does not have the right to recommend candidate for the party ticket in Cuncolim,\" John asserted, while demanding stern action against the Congress vice president.
Former Cuncolim MLA and Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao too expressed his shock and surprise that some vested interests are trying to project Clafacio as the Cuncolim Congress candidate. “How can someone declare a candidate without following the due party procedure. Has the party leadership abandoned the laid down procedure of inviting names of candidates for the party ticket,\" Joaquim demanded to know.
Interestingly, contrary to reports that he will contest the 2017 Assembly election on the third front banner, Joaquim said he is very much in the race for the Congress party ticket. “Why should I not be in the race for the Congress ticket. I am a loyal Congress soldier. My performance as an MLA and Minister is well known. Moreover, people of Cuncolim have given me a mandate in the recently held election for the Cuncolim civic body. If the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee are blind and cannot see my achievement, I am confident that the High Command would see the ground reality and give me the ticket,\" Joaquim asserted.
That Clafacio’s presence in Cuncolim for the second time in as many months along with Moti Desai and anti-Joaquim forces has generated much heat in the local Congress party shows that the battle for the party ticket will only intensify in the coming weeks and months ahead of the Assembly election. At the inauguration and blessing of the Cuncolim Congress office a month ago, which was arranged by Moti and his group and attended by Clafacio, both Joaquim and John and other party leaders from the constituency had stayed away from the function, sending clear signals that all is not well in the Congress camp.
