MARGAO
Rebellion is brewing in the Congress camp in the coastal constituency of Benaulim after the Congress declared the candidature of tiatr producer Tony Dias for the seat.
Flamboyant former Minister, Mickky Pacheco, who had embraced the Congress late last year with an eye on the party ticket to contest the ensuing polls from Benaulim, has slammed the Congress leadership.
In fact, Mickky has vowed to defeat the Congress in Benaulim as well as in neighbouring Nuvem constituency. Saying he would throw his hat in the election ring either from Benaulim or Nuvem, Mickky said he is ready to sacrifice Benaulim if any of the Congress ticket contenders, who have been left down by the party leadership, are willing to contest the ensuing polls.
Another strong contender for the Benaulim ticket Royla Fernandes has expressed her shock and surprise that the Congress party has nominated a candidate, who had joined the Congress just two days ago.
Royla reminded that the Benaulim Congress block had recommended the names of five candidates for the party ticket, lamenting that the party has not considered any of the recommended names. “It is indeed shocking that somebody who was not part of the Congress, and who has landed in the party just two days ago has been declared a candidate”, she rued.
To a question, Royla said the candidates who were recommended by the Benaulim block committee will meet to discuss the future course of action.
Mickky, on the other hand, said, he is ready to move into neighbouring Nuvem constituency to contest against the Congress candidate. He said the question of contesting on which party banner will be decided in a day or two, when asked whether he has any plans to return back to the NCP fold.
Reports were doing the rounds two days ago that the NCP leadership had invited Mickky to join the party and contest the ensuing polls on the party banner.
Tiatr producer, Tony Dias, who had started his campaign for the Benaulim on the Trinamool Congress, had quit the Mamata Didi-led party to join the Congress two days ago.
That Tony was welcomed into the party by none other than Opposition leader Digambar Kamat had given enough indications that the Tiatr producer has embraced the party following an assurance from the top leadership to field him in Benaulim.
