Who’s backing whom for the Congress party ticket for the Benaulim seat, is a question doing the rounds in political circles, as the race for the Benaulim Congress ticket has intensified with ticket contender and three-time Benaulim Zilla member, Maria Rebello calling on Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president, Luizinho Faleiro.
With Maria staking claim for the party ticket, a three-way race for Benaulim is underway in the party, with the claimants ably backed and supported by party leaders.
Maria’s visit to the residence of the Congress president assumes significance as Faleiro has been perceived a close family friend of Benaulim Block Congress president and strong ticket contender, Edwin Barretto. That’s not all. The GPCC president also shares a close rapport with another ticket contender, former Varca sarpanch Anthony Pinto. Before Maria Rebello could hit the campaign trail, and much before Anthony Pinto renewed his membership, it was perceived by Congressmen in Benaulim countryside that the Congress leadership may root for the Benaulim block president given Edwin’s association with the party over the years.
On the other hand, the Pinto brothers are believed to be close to All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Girish Chodankar. While ticket aspirant and former Varca sarpanch, Anthony, shares personal rapport with Faleiro, brother Nazario enjoys close friendship with the AICC secretary. Incidentally, Anthony has renewed his Congress membership only this year, with an eye on the party ticket to contest the Benaulim seat on the Congress banner.
When The Goan contacted AICC secretary Girish Chodankar to shed light on the political situation in Benaulim constituency, he admitted that he shares friendship with the Pinto brothers, but hastened to add that he used his relationship to get the Pinto brothers back into the party.
“My decision in taking keen interest in Benaulim was not to back any aspirant for the party ticket. The Pintos are known to me for long. I have brought them back into the party fold to play an active role. The tickets will be decided at a later date,” Girish said, while downplaying reports that he is backing Anthony’s candidature.
On the other hand, Maria Rebello, who had set her eyes on Benaulim around a year ago, after she moved away from friend turned foe, and former PWD minister, Churchill Alemao, has indeed surprised many a political player in the constituency when she publicly associated herself with the Congress party’s campaign of distributing chargesheets to people.
Notwithstanding the row over her presence at the party programme, Maria, however, remains unfazed. “I am not a stranger to the Congress party. I had actively supported the Congress party in the 2012 Assembly election even though my brother had contested as an independent,” Maria said, adding that she has joined the Congress chargesheet programme as per the guidance and advise of senior party leaders.
Incidentally, Maria’s decision to call on the GPCC president was apparently with the view to keep Faleiro informed on her decision to stake claim for the party ticket for the Benaulim seat. “My visit to Faleiro’s residence is a courtesy call since I have staked claim for the party ticket,” Maria said, without going into the details of what transpired between her and the party president.
Political players within the Congress and outside are trying to figure out the Congress leaders who have backed Maria in her all of a sudden decision to stake claim for the party ticket. It is learnt that a group of Congress MLAs, who are opposed to veterans contesting the coming election, are believed to have lent their support to Maria’s candidature.
