MARGAO
In a development that has sparked political interest in the Cuncolim Assembly constituency, represented by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Congress leader and former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes has emerged as the centre of attention ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
A group of local citizens under the banner of Swabhimani Cuncolkars has rallied behind Gomes and is expected to formally project him as the "people's candidate" for the 2027 polls.
Sources said the group is likely to urge the Congress leadership to field Gomes as the party's official nominee from Cuncolim. However, political observers believe such a move may face significant hurdles, with Yuri Alemao firmly in control of the party's affairs in the constituency. If the Congress leadership decides against his candidature, it could potentially trigger Gomes' exit from the party, sources added.
Gomes, a former bureaucrat, quit the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Congress in August 2021, just months before the 2022 Assembly elections. He was inducted into the party by then Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar and senior Congress leader Digambar Kamat.
Although Gomes had hoped to secure the Congress ticket from his home constituency of Cuncolim, the party instead fielded him from the Panaji constituency in the 2022 elections.
Since then, Gomes has remained active in public life, raising civic and governance issues under the banner of Citizens for Democracy.
He had earlier contested the 2017 Assembly election from Cuncolim as an Aam Aadmi Party candidate but was unsuccessful.
Political circles are now closely watching the programme scheduled for July 2, when Swabhimani Cuncolkars are expected to formally announce their support for Gomes. Equally significant will be the political leaders who share the dais with him, as their presence could signal emerging support for a potential challenge to sitting Congress MLA Yuri Alemao in the 2027 Assembly elections.
