Leaders and workers of Congress and INDIA alliance marching on the streets of Margao before heading to the district Collectorate for the filing of Capt Viriato's nomination papers.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Unlike the ruling BJP camp, which had in its ranks political heavyweights, including Ministers, MLAs et al led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the INDIA Alliance had to bank on MLAs of the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the Goa Forward when Congress candidate Captain Viriato Fernandes came to file nomination papers for the South Goa seat on Wednesday.
The Alliance, however, put up an impressive show as party leaders workers of the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Goa Forward and their rank and file and others came in strength to rally behind the Congress candidate on Wednesday.
Armed with flags of their respective parties, Congress and AAP workers descended near the South Goa district Congress office on Wednesday before they all marched on the streets, from the Margao KTC bus stand to the district Collectorate in support of Captain Viriato.
Leaders of the INDIA Alliance, including Congress leaders GPCC Chief Amit Patkar, Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, MLA Alton D’Costa, AAP MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai, NCP Chief Jose Philip D’Souza and others all descended at the meeting point along with Captain Viriato to address the waiting workers.
Captain Viriato along with the INDIA Alliance leaders, including AAP president Amit Palekar first visited the Damodar Linga Temple at Fatorda to seek divine blessings coinciding with Ram Navami, Lord Ram’s birthday. They later visited the adjacent Chapel of St Francis Xavier to light candles and offer prayers for the success of the Congress candidate.
While wishing the people of Goa in particular and India in general on the occasion of Ram Navami, Captain Viriato said he might have been a Naval Captain during the Kargil war, but the people who have come to support him in order to save Goa from destruction constitute the real Captains of his campaign.
Addressing the workers outside the district Congress office, Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao said the May 7 Lok Sabha polls is an election between people’s power and money power. “We are getting support from cross sections of the society. Even BJP cadres, who are upset over the party decision to induct Margao MLA Digambar Kamat are supporting us in a big way”, Yuri said.
AAP MLA Venzy Viegas exuded confidence that even the BJP workers, who are campaigning for the ruling party candidate, will vote for the INDIA Alliance candidate Captain Viriato since they too are hit by the rise in prices of LPG gas cylinders, petrol and other commodities.
