the goan I network
MARGAO
All eyes are centered on the Congress camp in Curtorim ahead of the Zilla Panchayat polls, with the Curtorim block committee on Thursday suggesting names of a couple of candidates for the Curtorim and Raia ZP seats and the local three-time Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco wondering whether the committee can suggest any names without consulting the local MLA.
Reginaldo directed his ire at the state Congress leadership, saying this only goes to show how much the party is against him despite doing so much for the party.
“I believe in God and only God will show me how I should go about the coming election,” was how Reginaldo commented when asked for his future course of action.
The Goan understands that the Curtorim Block Committee is believed to have suggested the name of Michelle Rebello, wife of sitting Curtorim ZP member Moreno, for the Curtorim ZP seat reserved for women.
The Committee also recommended the names of Camurlim sarpanch Basil Fernandes and former Rachol Sarpanch Joseph Vaz for the Raia ZP seat. The Committee has given its list to the South Goa district Congress Committee headed by President Joe Dias.
As sources in the Congress pointed out, the names recommended by the Curtorim block committee do not belong to the Reginaldo camp, but the district committee said whatever names have been received by them will be forwarded to the party state leadership for further action.
Reginaldo, however, sought to blame the state party leadership for the present state of affairs. “The state party leadership should explain how the block committee can suggest names of candidates when the constituency is represented by a three-time MLA,” he said.
“It is indeed surprising that I have not been consulted by the party block committee to decide on the candidates for the two ZP seats in my Assembly constituency when the party leadership should have taken me into confidence while suggesting names of candidates across the state given that I am a three-time MLA and have worked for the party for years,” Reginaldo added.
“I do not know why the party leadership is against me, inspite of doing so much for the party and despite the fact that I had backed Francisco Sardinha in the Lok Sabha election. Of the five MLAs left in the Congress, I am a lone MLA who has not enjoyed any power till date, while the remaining four have either been the Chief Ministers or Leader of Opposition in the past, but I was not considered for the post of Opposition leader,” he said, adding that he continues to be a Congressman though attempts have been made by the party leadership to paint him as a monster.
