MARGAO
As he moves around in a new brand Hummer, spending time on the beach and at the shacks along Salcete’s coastal belt, Mickky, however, pointed out that the shutters of his offices at his residence at Betalbatim, Loutolim and Nuvem will remain open for the people.
“I have been in politics since 1999. I have won three elections, continuously from 2002 till 2012, besides the 2005 bye-poll. I have served the people of both Benaulim and Nuvem constituencies to the best of my ability. The people, however, felt otherwise, and they decided to have a new person to represent them. I have no problem and I only wish them the best,” Mickky said in his inimitable fashion.
Asked specifically whether he has quit politics, especially in the light of his statement in the run of his election that 2017 will be his last election, Mickky replied that he would continue in politics, adding that either he or a close member of his family would contest the next election.
“I would continue serving the people in whatever possible way. Yes, I had stated that 2017 will be my last election and I wanted to leave politics on a winning note. But, since the people have opted for a new person to represent them, let them see the difference. Either I or my family member will contest the next election,” he added.
Asked whether he has any plans to do a re-think on his association with Goa Su Raj party, Mickky said his decision to contest the election on the regional party did not go down well with the people. “I have not decided yet whether to float a new party or not. But, for the moment, I will continue serving the people of Benaulim and Nuvem,” he asserted.
Mickky’s tasted his first defeat in his political career when friend turned foe and Congress candidate Wilfred D’Sa defeated him in Nuvem, and cut short his dream run in politics since 2002, when he had emerged as a giant killer by defeating Churchill Alemao in Benaulim.
With his defeat in the just-concluded Assembly election, Mickky’s gamble of changing political parties every election came a cropper this time round. In the 2017 Assembly election, Mickky contested the election on the Goa Su Raj Party banner, a move widely perceived as an attempt to get rid of the BJP tag, which he had acquired for supporting the BJP-led government after the 2012 election when he had won from Nuvem on the Goa Vikas party by defeating former power minister, Alexio Sequeira.
During his career spanning 15 years, Mickky had joined and left around five political parties, starting with United Goans Democratic Party, BJP, Nationalist Congress Party, Goa Vikas Party and Goa Su Raj Party.
