MARGAO
Around 20 candidates, including political heavyweights, former ministers and MLAs, filed their nomination papers for the February 4 election for Assembly constituencies in Salcete taluka.
State Congress president Luizinho Faleiro (Navelim), former ministers, Churchill Alemao and Joaquim Alemao, Mickky Pacheco, Filipe Neri Rodrigues and MLAs Benjamin D’Silva and Caitu Silva, were amongst the host of candidates who filed their nomination papers on the penultimate day of the nomination process.
Besides Luizinho Faleiro, those who filed their papers for the Navelim seat are Cipru Cardozo (Ind) and George Barreto (GVP).
For the Velim seat, former minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues (Cong), Benjamin D’Silva (Ind), Anthony Rodrigues (GFP), Cruz Silva (AAP), Vinay Tari (BJP), Domnic Noronha (GSRP), Wilzon Mazarello (Ind) and Constancio Fernandes (Ind) filed their papers.
High profile Benaulim constituency saw former PWD minister Churchill Alemao filing his nomination paper for the seat after a gap of 15 years. His Congress rival Edwin Barretto and activist Judith Almeida also filed their papers on Tuesday.
For the Cuncolim seat, Congress rebels, Joaquim Alemao and Adv John Monteiro have filed their papers as Independent and on the GVP respectively.
Mickky Pacheco, his challenger Wilfred D’Sa (Cong), Vincent Rodrigues (NCP) and Dinesh Bandodkar filed their papers for the Nuvem seat.
BJP candidate, Arthur D’Silva and AAP candidate Edwin Vaz filed their papers for the Curtorim seat.
Luizinho said he has filed the nomination papers out of respect for the people of Navelim, adding that he has decided to take the plunge since Navelim has gone backward by 10 years. “I would like to make Navelim a jewel in the crown of Goa," he added.
Former PWD minister Churchill Alemao again blamed Digambar Kamat and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco for sabotaging the Cong-NCP alliance, adding that he has no problem if more than five candidates contest the election for the Benaulim seat.
Joaquim Alemao, who quit the Congress party, has filed his papers as an independent. “I am a people’s candidate and I have faith in God and trust in the people of Cuncolim. My ticket is my people. The person who have been given the ticket will stand third in the list," he said. Joaquim said that no one will be able to form the government without his support.
Mickky Pacheco told the media that those who are contesting against him have no maturity, adding that his margin would increase in the coming election. “The coming election is not a panchayat or ZP election. I will win with a huge margin this time," he added.
Sitting Velim MLA Benjamin Silva said he would go to the people with a plea to re-elect him to complete the pending works. Benjamin’s rival, AAP candidate Cruz Silva said his party would get the rivers back to the people of Goa.
