MARGAO
The Congress party in minority-dominated Curtorim is in a state of flux again after ex-MLA Reginaldo Lourenco quit the Trinamool Congress party on Sunday, with reports doing the rounds that the three-time MLA may return back to the party fold ahead of the polls.
This is not the first time that the Curtorim Congress unit has witnessed leaders moving out of the party, only to quit the new party and do a ghar wapsi into the Congress.
Ex-Zilla Panchayat member Moreno Rebello had quit the Congress on December 10 last to join the BJP, only to return back into the party fold, a day after Reginaldo quit the Congress to join the TMC on December 20.
The latest development has thrown up a question or two for the Congress leaders, whether the party will open the doors for Reginaldo Lourenco and whether the three-time former MLA will be considered for the Congress ticket.
This question assumes significance and comes against the backdrop that Congress leader, Moreno Rebello had virtually launched his poll campaign in the constituency a week ago.
A total of four candidates, including Moreno, wife, ZP member Michele, MP Francisco Sardinha’s son Shalom and Congress veteran Joseph Vaz were recommended by the Curtorim Block Congress Committee for the party ticket.
When The Goan called up Moreno on Sunday evening moments after Reginaldo quit the TMC, Moreno exuded confidence that the Congress doors will not be opened for Reginaldo. “The question whether Reginaldo will be given the party ticket to contest from Curtorim does not arise since the party will not open the doors for the ex-MLA,” Moreno asserted.
Moreno, however, had kicked off his campaign in the constituency since the last one week, moving around the constituency with Curtorim block president, Milagres Fernandes and party workers.
Sources said Moreno and his team had covered a lot of ground over the last one week, hoping the party would nominate him for the ticket to contest the ensuing polls. Notwithstanding the development, sources said Moreno has told his close aides that the party has reassured him of the ticket to contest the ensuing polls on the party banner.
Sources in the know informed that one has to wait for the political developments to unfold in Curtorim, more so as reports are doing the rounds that Reginaldo has quit the TMC only after establishing contacts with Congress leaders in Goa and Delhi.
That BJP-turned-Congress leader Michael Lobo tweeted soon after Reginaldo quit the Congress, requesting the three-time MLA to return back to the Congress fold, has only sent clear indications that a section of the party leadership was kept in the loop before the developments began to unfold on Sunday.
