MARGAO
This may sound politically strange, but true. At a time when TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai-led Goa Forward is leaving no stone unturned to make deep inroads in Cuncolim by exposing Congress MLA Clafacio Dias on the development front, alliance partner and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude on Wednesday vowed to usher in the development of Cuncolim constituency.
That’s not all. Gaude made it clear that he would not only take up development projects mooted by the local MLA and the Cuncolim Municipal Council, but reminded all and sundry that no one can claim credit for any development except the local elected MLA.
Gaude’s statement at the Cuncolim Municipal Council hall on the occasion of the inauguration of the municipal library raised many an eyebrow in local political circles as the Goa Forward had left no stone unturned to claim credit for the development works in the constituency.
And, Gaude gave a clean chit to Clafacio Dias saying the Cuncolim MLA had taken up a host of development projects in Cuncolim which would take shape in the near future. “Clafacio came to me to take up the Panzorconne-Veroda road at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore. I have approved the project and the work will commence soon,” he said.
And, the Art and Culture Minister has promised to vigorously pursue the request made by MLA Clafacio and Cuncolim Municipal Council Chairperson Lavita Mascarenhas to take up air conditioning of the Cuncolim municipal hall.
He has further promised to set up a grand library with state-of-the-art infrastructure in Cuncolim if the Cuncolim Municipal Council makes available the required land.
Reminding that no one can claim credit for any development work in a constituency expect the local MLA, the Independent MLA said any development proposal is set in motion by the MLA and no other person has the right to claim credit. Without taking any names, Gaude said people should not mix development with politics. “An MLA is representing the people of the entire constituency. I want to reassure the people that I will develop Cuncolim constituency in general and Cuncolim area in particular,” he added.
Incidentally, the Cuncolim MLA took the platform to announce he would soon hold foundation stone laying programme to mark the commencement of the Rs eight crore power project in Cuncolim at the hands of Power Minister Nilesh Cabral. Clafacio’s announcement to invite the Cabral to lay the foundation stone assumes significance given that GFP leaders, including Yuri Alemao and Durgadas Kamat, had gone to town claiming credit for the Rs eight crore project. It also assumes assume significance and comes against the backdrop of Cabral categorically saying the power project was approved in Cuncolim after follow up by Cuncolim MLA and request made by the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, but made no mention of Joaquim and Yuri Alemao.
