MARGAO
Are arch political rivals and former Benaulim MLAs Churchill Alemao and Mickky Pacheco gearing up for yet another electoral showdown in the constituency in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, even as incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Captain Venzy Viegas prepares to defend his seat?
Churchill and Mickky began their political careers in Benaulim before moving on to represent Navelim and Nuvem, respectively. The duo last crossed swords in Benaulim in the 2002 Assembly elections, when Mickky emerged as a giant-killer by defeating Churchill on his home turf.
On Friday, both leaders separately announced their plans to contest from Benaulim in 2027, launching sharp attacks on the incumbent MLA as they signalled their intentions to make a political comeback in the constituency.
While Churchill claimed that Benaulim had witnessed little development since his exit in 2022, Mickky accused the present leadership of failing to live up to the people’s aspirations, alleging that the constituency had suffered under leadership driven by personal vision rather than public needs.
Reiterating his intention to contest on a “people’s ticket”, Churchill said he was determined to return to Benaulim. Mickky, meanwhile, announced that he would contest under the banner of the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP), the party with which his political journey began.
“Except for one election, I have won from Benaulim on political banners other than that of the Congress. This only goes to show that I am the people’s candidate and that the people are with me,” Mickky told the media.
Announcing his candidature, Mickky said Benaulim remained central to his political journey and that he was determined to return to serve the constituency with renewed commitment.
“Benaulim is not merely a constituency for me; it is the place where I began my political journey, earned the trust of the people and received the honour of being elected to serve them. The people of Benaulim elected me three times, giving me their valuable mandate, affection and confidence. That trust remains one of the greatest honours of my public life, and I shall always remain grateful to the people for the faith they have placed in me,” he said.
Mickky added that even after shifting his political focus to Nuvem, he had continued to follow the aspirations and concerns of Benaulim’s residents.
“I firmly believe that many people here feel that the constituency has not witnessed the level of development, attention and positive change they had hoped for. The people deserve effective representation, accessible leadership and a stronger voice for their concerns,” he said.
Stating that he was returning with experience and a clear purpose, Mickky said he would seek the support of residents across communities, religions and political affiliations.“My commitment is to serve all the people of Benaulim fairly, sincerely and without discrimination,” he added.
Meanwhile, incumbent MLA Venzy Viegas is expected to seek re-election on the AAP ticket as the political contest for Benaulim begins to take shape.
Social worker and youth leader Warren Alemao, Churchill Alemao’s nephew, is also preparing to make his electoral debut from the constituency, potentially adding another dimension to what could be a keenly contested battle in 2027.
