Will two-time former Cuncolim MLA, Joaquim Alemao’s candidature find favour with All India Congress committee (AICC) general secretary Digvijaya Singh as the Congress is on the last leg of its candidate selection exercise?
When the AICC general secretary was questioned on the question of fielding local candidates in the coming election, Digvijaya was categorical in saying that local candidates should be fielded by the party, but appeared ambiguous when questioned as to whether the former two-time MLA will fit the bill.
“The party is of the firm opinion that local candidates should be fielded for any seat as far as possible. If there is no local candidate available, the party leaders should give preference to the views of local Congress workers,” Digvijaya said.
However, when the media asked him whether former two-time legislator Joaquim Alemao will be considered for the party ticket since his rivals have dubbed him an "outsider" in Cuncolim constituency, Digvijaya evaded a clear reply, saying the party leadership will take a call in respect of such cases.
“In the Congress party, we have the Pradesh Election Committee which will take a call on such issues,” he replied, when the media asked for his comment on Joaquim Alemao’s claim for the party in the wake of opposition for his candidature from other ticket aspirants, including arch rival, Clafacio Dias.
That the AICC general secretary did not give a categorical reply vis-Ã -vis Joaquim in the race for the Cuncolim Congress ticket indicates that the party is weighing various options before finalising the party candidate.
As many as four candidates, including Joaquim Alemao, Clafacio Dias, Devendra Desai and Adv John Monteiro have staked claim for the ticket for the Cuncolim seat. Clafacio has on record warned that he would not work for the party candidate if the ticket is given for an outsider, dropping clear hints that he would take a call in the event Joaquim bags the Congress ticket.
What’s significant to note is the fact that the Cuncolim block Committee has also adopted a resolution demanding that the Congress ticket should be given to candidate hailing from the constituency, in a bid to block Joaquim from lobbying hard with the party leadership in the race for the party ticket.
Though Joaquim had set a 15-day ultimatum on his birthday on November 8 to the Congress leadership to decide on his candidature or else threatened to quit the party, he has now decided to wait for the Congress candidate selection exercise before taking a call on his political future.
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