the goan I network
MARGAO
Is the Congress party struggling to find a suitable candidate to contest the Velim ZP seat “ the fiefdom of Fisheries Minister and Cong-turned-BJP MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues?
Or, is the party not quite interested in contesting the seat and will be content in backing an independent?
These questions have come to the fore in Velim against the backdrop of the fact that only a lone application for party ticket has come in from candidate, Julio Fernandes, when there ought to have been a stiff race for the ticket when Velim constituency has been the stronghold of the Congress, having given a huge lead for the party in the 2019 LS election.
Julio Fernandes, a resident of Velim, submitted his application for the Congress ticket after news spread that the party leadership could not find any candidate to contest on the party banner.
It is learnt that Julio was accompanied by Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva, besides a couple of elected representatives from Velim constituency, to Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, wherein the delegation impressed upon Kamat to ensure that the Congress fields a candidate for Velim.
It is learnt that the Congress had initially set its eyes on former ZP member Anthony Rodrigues. Anthony, however, is believed to have told South Goa District President Joe Dias, who hails from Velim constituency, that he is not ready to contest on the Hand symbol and would instead prefer to contest as an independent with the backing of the Congress.
Questions are being raised in Congress circles why the Congress did not zero in on alternate candidates to contest the election on the Hand symbol, when Velim has been the party’s stronghold foryears.
A section of the party leadership is not open to the idea of backing an independent for the Velim seat when the party has a huge base there.
Given the situation, Congress workers are now pinning their hopes on GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar and Leader of Opposition, Digambar Kamat, to hunt for a suitable candidate as the duo is being responsible by the party rank and file behind the decision to contest the ZP polls on party lines.
