MARGAO
The Rumdamol Housing Board area, part of Navelim constituency, became the talking point on Sunday evening as the Kumpars “ Trinamol Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro and NCP MLA Churchill Alemao with daughter Valanka in tow separately descended on the area, to kick off their campaign in the constituency.
While Luizinho Faleiro interacted with the residents at the Housing Board area on the eve of the Eid scheduled on Monday, Churchill held a public meeting in the locality, calling upon the people to rally behind her daughter Valanka in the coming polls.
The Congress-turned-TMC leader made it clear to the media that his campaign for Navelim had started the day he had quit the Congress to join the new party. “I interact with my workers almost on a daily basis”, he said, as he congratulated the people for decorating the Housing Board with lights ahead of tomorrow’s (Monday) festival.
He added: “Their happiness is our happiness. I am very happy that the people of Housing Board have all come together to celebrate the festival”.
Asked if his presence at the Housing Board was part of the election campaign, Luizinho shot back saying his campaign had started from the day he had quit the Congress to join the TMC. “I had quit the Congress and joined the TMC with the blessings of the people. After I joined the TMC, many of our friends have joind the party. People have no alternative. They want a change. And we all must work together to bring about a change”, he said.
Churchill, on the other hand, urged the people of Housing Board to rally behind daughter Valanka, promising to complete the remaining works in Navelim constituency. Addressing a meeting in the locality, Churchill said he was instrumental in dislodging Luizinho from Navelim in 2007 and got him reelected the Navelim MLA in 2017. “I believe in people’s power. For me, the party banner is not important. One can make big in politics only with the blessings of the people and not because of the parties”, he said, while reiterating his charge that he had lost the Navelim seat in 2012 because of manipulation of the EVMs.
Valanka, in her address, said the good will of her father and the blessings of the people would help her win the Navelim seat in 2022. “I am confident that you will all support me in the same way you had supported by father. Together we take Navelim to great heights”, she added.
Valanka hints at going independently
Valanka Alemao interacting with her supporters in the same locality after a public meeting. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: Valanka Alemao told the people of Housing Board area of Navelim constituency on Sunday that she almost decided to contest the 2022 Assembly election from the constituency as an Independent.
“As of now, I have decided to contest the coming polls as an independent candidate. Today, I am an independent candidate. But, if there’s going to be any other decision, I will seek the opinion of the people. I do not want to join any political party by hurting the sentiments of the people. I will contest the polls as an independent”, she asserted.
She pointed out that she has been approached by a couple of political parties but hastened to add that no decision has bene taken so far to contest the election on a party banner.
