MARGAO
In an interesting development, Margao-based lawyer, Adv Antonio Clovis da Costa’s candidature did not find favour with the Trinamool Congress Party as the Mamata Didi-led party on Saturday nominated former MLA Benjamin D’Silva for the Velim seat.
Taken aback with the party decision, Adv Clovis has called for a meeting of his supporters and well-wishers to chalk out the future course of action. “I have nothing to say on the party’s decision to field Benjamin for the Velim seat. My supporters and well-wishers have been calling me to find out the ground reality after the party announced the list of candidates,” he said.
Adv Clovis said his supporters and well-wishers will all meet at his residence on Sunday to take stock of the situation and chalk out the future course of action.
Adv Clovis was one of the few leaders, who had joined the TMC in the first lot last year. He was later projected as a candidate for the Velim seat. In fact, he along with ace tennis player, Leander Paes had kicked off the election campaign for the Velim seat.
Heading the South Goa Advocates’ Association as its President, Adv Clovis had covered a lot of ground in Velim constituency over the last two months, covering the length and breadth of the constituency, right from riverine villages of Velim, Assolna and Ambelim to the hinterland areas of Sao Jose de Areal and Dicarpale, parts of the Velim constituency.
Though Adv Clovis had covered a lot of ground in Velim, moves are afoot by TMC MLA Churchill Alemao and others to rope in Minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues in the party. The move, however, did not fructify after former Independent MLA Benjamin D’Silva rushed to join the TMC after quitting the Congress after the latter nominated Savio D’Silva for the Velim seat.
