MARGAO
They had all ganged up in the 2012 Assembly election to send former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao packing home from Navelim. And, they all succeeded in their mission when Avertano Furtado emerged as a giant killer against Churchill.
Much water, however, has flown down the River Sal in the last five years and two of Avertano’s close supporters Sidharth Karapurkar and George Barretto have emerged as his challengers in the 2017 Assembly election.
Activist-turned-politician Sidharth Karapurkar has been declared as Aam Aadmi Party candidate against Avertano for the Navelim seat, while close family friend George Barretto is bracing up to contest the coming election either on the NCP banner or as an independent.
Relations between Avertano and George soured on the eve of the 2015 Zilla Panchayat election after the Navelim ZP seat was reserved for the OBC. A fuming George went to the media to protest against the reservation, blaming the Navelim MLA and Fisheries Minister behind the same. Since then, George parted ways with his long-time friend before embracing the Nationalist Congress Party a year ago.
George says: “I have nothing personal against Avertano. But, I decided to move away from him after the Navelim ZP seat was reserved for the OBC and preempting me from contesting the election. I will contest the coming Assembly election with or without the NCP ticket,” he asserted.
On the other hand, activist-turned-politician Sidharth Karapurkar pointed out that he had supported Avertano in the 2012 Assembly election when the previous Congress had initiated the process to take away the fields of the Navelim farmers. “We all decided to support Avertano after he promised to help the farmers. He did help the farmers after he intervened with the BJP-led government to stop acquisition of huge tracts of land for the sewage expansion project. We have nothing personal against Avertano, but we are opposing him since the BJP-led government he is representing has been tainted in many scams. I have joined AAP since the party is different from the other political parties,” he said.
The Navelim MLA, however, appears unfazed that two of his close supporters are bracing up to contest against him in the February 4 election. “I welcome both Sidharth and George on their decision to throw their hat in the electoral ring. In fact, I would like to wish both of them in the election. We are living in a democracy and anyone is free to contest an election,” Avertano said.
The Fisheries Minister, however, refuted the allegations that he was behind the government decision to reserve the Navelim ZP seat for the OBC. “Where’s the question of sabotaging the prospects of George when I was kept in the dark by the government on the seat reservation,” Avertano said.
Incidentally, while Karapurkar has kicked off his campaign in Navelim, George is awaiting for the outcome of the Congress-NCP alliance talks to make his next move.
