mARGAO
Ahead of the crucial vote of confidence on the floor of the House on Thursday, supporters and close aides of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Churchill Alemao on Wednesday gave the green signal to the Benaulim MLA-elect to support the BJP-led government in the State.
The workers comprising of sarpanchas of Benaulim - Remy Fernandes, Colva - Menino Fernandes and Carmona - Sandra Martins, besides deputy sarpanchas and panchas from Benaulim constituency urged Churchill not to waste any time, but to extend support to the BJP-led government.
Addressing the media, Elvis Gomes pointed out that Churchill had tried his level best to get in MLAs to support the Congress in the formation of the government, but in vain. “It was Churchill who brought in Priol Independent MLA-elect Govind Gawde and gave him to the Congress leaders, including State Congress president Luizinho Faleiro. Churchill tried his best to ensure that the Congress cobble up the required numbers and even promised to get one more MLA,” Elvis said, while expressing unhappiness that the Congress could not cobble up the magic figure of 21.
Saying that workers were concerned that Benaulim would be left out on the development front if the Congress could not form the government, Elvis pointed out that the workers met on Sunday and authorised Churchill to take any decision in the formation of the government which will benefit Benaulim on the development front. “On Monday, we along with Churchill were with Digambar Kamat till 12 noon, hoping that the Congress would manage to get to the magic figure, but in vain,” he said, while demanding to know how long Churchill and his supporters are expected to wait when the Congress is reaching nowhere to the magical figure.
He said around 300 workers, who met Churchill at his residence on Wednesday bluntly told the MLA-elect that the time has come to support any government in the interest of Benaulim and development.
When the media drew attention of the workers that Parrikar has already claimed NCP support to his government, Elvis shot back saying that Churchill is yet to give his letter of support to the BJP-led government.
Former Benaulim sarpanch John Barretto said that it is the moral duty of the Benaulim MLA-elect to ensure development of the constituency. “The Congress had slammed the door on Churchill when he wanted to join the party. Still, Churchill went out of the way to help the Congress in the government formation, but in vain,” he said, while saying that Churchill should support the government in the interest of the constituency’s development.
When the attention of the supporters were drawn to the promise made by Churchill at a meeting at Benaulim that he would never support the BJP, Elvis shot back “We have not asked Churchill to join the BJP, but to only support the government.”
