PANAJI
Reluctant to come clear on whether he will be the TMC's CM face for the upcoming polls, or whether he will contest the elections at all, or if his party had offered him a Rajya Sabha ticket, Luizinho Faleiro on Thursday was clear about one thing: using football as a political bridge for the TMC into Goa.
Recalling his moments with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who he met earlier this week in Kolkata, describing her as a humble woman, but a fighter who had taken the battle to the BJP, Faleiro said that Banerjee had offered to send all the three top flight football teams in her state to Goa.
"Didi (West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) told me. Goans love football. I will get all three teams from WB to Goa to meet Goans," Faleiro said.
"Goans love fish. Bengalis love fish. Goans love football Bengalis love football," he also said, at his first press conference in Goa after formally joining TMC.
Faleiro however failed to announce anything new or concrete, since the first major press conference held in Panaji earlier this week and later at his induction ceremony in Kolkata on Wednesday, other than underlining the party's resolve of defeating the BJP.
To critical questions related to his role in the party, especially whether he would be the Chief Ministerial face of the TMC or whether he was contesting the upcoming polls, Faleiro was evasive.
"Whether I will contest or not contest at the appropriate time," the former Chief Minister said, adding that the TMC was in the process of conducting a constituency-wise survey to assess the needs and aspirations of the specific areas.
"Once we have the details, we will decide who will be the face of the constituency and the CM," Faleiro said.
Responding to speculation that he had bargained for a Rajya Sabha ticket before facilitating his entry into the TMC, Faleiro said: Nobody has offered me anything... Let the offer come then I will reply to you".
Faleiro was also evasive to questions on whether the TMC was keen on inducting the defector MLAs from the Congress party, who joined the BJP over the last few years.
He said that Goa needs change, especially in view of the fact that there was no opposition in the state for the last 10 years.
"Goa needs a change. You have seen for the last 10 years, there is no opposition. There is no credible alternative. And I can tell you proudly, here is didi to give us a reliable and formidable alternative. We are charged and ready to defeat the BJP which is trying to bring in a culture of intolerance, hatred and vendetta.
