MAPUSA
Continuing to maintain suspense on his political future, Ports Minister Michael Lobo on Sunday said contesting on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was not an option for him and his wife (Delilah) but both would contest from one party.
Lobo also dropped enough hints to indicate that he was not very happy with the BJP and the inflationary trend that’s impacting the common man.
“TMC has not come to us. It’s not on our mind. We respect Mamata (Banerjee). She’s a great leader, orator and CM. But as far as joining her party the question does not arise. It’s a party of West Bengal,” Lobo said.
He said there were a lot of options available to him but people of Goa will have the final say on selecting the perfect choice.
“If people of Goa do not want me to contest from the BJP then we will have to listen to the people. If people say that I have to remain in BJP then I will do so,” he said, keeping everyone guessing.
The Ports Minister has put his foot down on fielding his wife (Delilah) from Siolim and even opened her election office in Siolim-Marna village on Saturday.
Lobo said that his wife had never asked for a BJP ticket and she had hit the ground declaring herself as an Independent candidate.
“BJP has said that it will not give two tickets in a family. I don’t think Delilah has asked a ticket from the BJP. Right now she cannot say on which party she is contesting from. She will decide by the end of Nov or by early Dec,” he said.
He further said that Delilah has been moving from ward to ward in Siolim constituency meeting people trying to get feedback from them.
“While interacting with people she has found that increase in price of essential goods is hurting people badly. Everyone is asking her about the price of a cylinder which has almost touched Rs 1000. They ask her what she will be doing to reduce the prices on goods,” he said.
He also said that fuel prices have gone up tremendously which in turn has increased the price of essential commodities.
“Reducing petrol price by Rs 5 is not enough. We have to see that we bring down the inflationary trend that is affecting the people. We have to see that people get jobs,” he said.
