Churchill Alemao says he will contest from Benaulim, while daughter Valanka will seek election from Navelim. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Asserting that he and his daughter Valankawould contest the upcoming Assembly election from Benaulim and Navelimrespectively, former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao on Monday said theCongress should give tickets to good and winnable candidates if the oppositionparty hoped to return to power in 2027.
Alemao, however, said he was 200 per centcertain that the Congress would give tickets to candidates in exchange formoney. “The Congress has a chance to win seats this time if the party does nottake money from candidates for tickets. But I am 200 per cent certain that theCongress would accept money to give tickets. We have seen that the party hasstarted inducting people who are not the right candidates,” he said.
He refused to name the candidates who had beeninducted into the party and promised tickets after paying money. “Let the mediafind out and investigate my allegations. I do not want to name anyone.
"In my political career, I have neverpaid money to any party for a ticket to contest the elections. I will not evenaccept a ticket if any party asks me to pay money,” Alemao said.
Briefing the media, Alemao said he wouldcontest the upcoming polls from the Benaulim constituency. “I am ready tocontest the election on the Congress ticket in Benaulim. But if the party doesnot want to give me the ticket, I will contest the election on the people'sticket,” he asserted.
As far as his daughter Valanka is concerned,Alemao said she would contest the election from Navelim. “She had lost the 2022election by a thin margin. Let us wait and see how the political situationunfolds in the state. The media will come to know the exact situation 20 daysbefore the election,” he said.
Meanwhile, the former Benaulim MLA said he wasinstrumental in obtaining government sanction for the construction of theCarmona ground during his stint as MLA. “How can the incumbent MLA take creditfor the project when I had done the spadework and obtained government sanctionfor the ground?” he said.
