the goan I network
MARGAO
The Congress seems to have suddenly bounced back in the battle for Benaulim “ Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao’s bastion.
In a determined bid to checkmate the MLA right in his stronghold ahead of the 2022 Assembly battle, as many as four candidates, who had crossed swords against Churchill in the 2017 Assembly poll, have all come under the Congress banner to support the Congress nominee in the ensuing Zilla Panchayat polls.
Former MLA Caitu Silva, then Congress candidate Edwin Barretto and three-time Benaulim ZP member Maria Rebello have all extended their support to Congress candidate Royla Fernandes, who had crossed swords against Churchill on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) banner in 2017.
That the Congress leadership managed to bring all the four Assembly candidates to support Royla’s candidature in the ensuing ZP polls indicates that the main opposition party is going all out to storm Churchill’s fort in the coming election.
Former MLA Caitu Silva, who had joined the Congress on the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, stressed on the need to take the Congress forward. “We have all come together to make corrections in the party. We are all together and will work unitedly for the success of the Congress,” Caitu said.
Congress leader Edwin Barretto said though Royla had contested against the Congress in the 2017 Assembly election, she had helped the party in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. “What is happening across India is bad. We should all come together in the interest of the people,” Edwin said.
Three-time Benaulim ZP member and former South Goa ZP Chairperson Maria Rebello also shared the dais with Royla and other Congress leaders on Tuesday. She pointed out she was supporting the Congress Benaulim candidate since the Congress is the only party which would really fight for the devolution of powers and functions for the Zilla Panchayats.
Royla pointed out that all the four candidates of the 2017 Assembly election fought amongst themselves, giving the victory to the NCP in Benaulim. “Now, all of us have decided to fight with one single goal,” she added.
Benaulim panch Xavier Pereira along with wife and ex-Sarpanch Dielle Pereira also extended their support to the Congress candidate. Former Orlim Sarpanch Gaudencio Luis, former Varca sarpanch Reginaldo Rodrigues, Honey D’Costa, Benaulim panch Trevor, Benaulim Congress block president Carlton Lourenco, besides Congress in-charge Dixon Vaz all came in support of Royla’s candidature.
In her manifesto, Royla has promised to take steps to revive the agricultural economy from the platform of Zilla Panchayat to cultivate fallow land. She promised to get the River Sal rejuvenated and implement garbage management through the school children. “I will fight for the devolution of Zilla Panchayat powers as envisaged under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment,” she added.
