the goan I network
MARGAO
Days after party Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao went to the town ruling out any truck with the Congress in the formation of any new government, NCP Goa unit Chief Jose Philip D’Souza said the party has not taken any decision nor has the local unit received any communique from the party bosses to sever ties with the Congress.
While Churchill reiterated that he will not support the Congress party in the government formation in the future, Jose Philip said the party high command will take a call on how the party’s relations with other parties, including the Congress.
Feigning ignorance of Churchill Alemao’s recent media statements that he would not have any truck with the Congress party in Goa in government formation, Jose Philip said the party will only follow the dictates of the party high command.
“I have no idea about Churchill’s statement. I do not know what he has said about the Congress party. But, one thing is clear that the local unit of the party will act as per the directives of the Party high command,” he said.
Churchill, however, has begged to differ. The Benaulim MLA said he would not support the Congress party in the formation of the new government. “My decision not to support the Congress in the future in government formation is final,” Churchill said.
When his attention was drawn to the statement made by party president Jose Philip D’Souza that the party unit in Goa will go by the decision of the party high command, Churchill laughed at the suggestion, saying “let us wait and see”.
The Benaulim MLA had come out strongly against the Congress party after the April 23, day of voting for the Lok Sabha, after the Congress leadership roped in arch rival and former Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva on the eve of the Lok sabha election.
Churchill was perturbed over the fact that the Congress spurned his offer to extend support to the Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha in lieu of leaving the Benaulim and three other seats for the NCP in South Goa.
The Benaulim MLA is also believed to have not taken kindly to the hurdles created by some Congress leaders on the question of giving the South Goa Lok Sabha ticket to daughter Valanka by raising questions over
her membership. Churchill had flayed the Congress leadership saying that while they raised question over Valanka’s membership, the Congress awarded tickets in Shiroda and Mapusa
assembly bypoll candidates, who were till recently BJP leaders.
