MARGAO
High drama, chaos and uproar marked the entry of former Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva into the Congress party at the South Goa District Congress office on Friday evening after the rival camp headed by Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva questioned the induction of the former Independent MLA into the party just before the 2022 polls.
Strongly suspecting that Benjamin has joined the party with an eye on the party ticket for the 2022 election, supporters of the Velim MLA directed their ire at party leaders, including Leader of Opposition, holding him and other responsible for throwing open the doors of the party for former MLAs, who had till recently enjoyed honeymoon with the BJP.
A truce brokered by both sides in the presence of the GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar in the district congress office just before the induction of the former MLA could not hold. High drama unfolded when the Leader of Opposition presented a bouquet to Benjamin, welcoming him into the party, a gesture which was vehemently opposed by the Savio camp.
His supporters led by Velim ZP member Julio Fernandes and Malcom Pereira vehemently objected to Benjamin’s formal induction, contending that the party should have make the former MLA a member like thousands of ordinary members. Julio pointed out that they had enrolled around 3800 new members on the party App, wondering whether the party has gone in for the formal induction in order to project Benjamin for the ticket.
Julio claimed that Benjamin did not support his candidature when the party had fielded him as a candidate for the ZP election.
District Congress Chief Joe Dias, who is also a contender for the Velim ticket, explained to Savio’s supporters that the party decides on the ticket just three months before the election, reminding that Benjamin’s entry has nothing to do with the ticket. Joe further said that the party has opened the doors for people to join the party, but without conditions.
Savio’s supporters directed their anger at the Leader of Opposition, blaming him for the situation, even accusing him for being hand in gloves with the BJP. Malcom has even dared the Opposition leader to hold a meeting in Chinchinim if the ticket is given to Benjamin in the coming election.
He questioned why the Congress is not ready to take back Minister Filip Neri Rodrigues in the party if the party can open the doors for Benjamin, who had in the past supported former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
As the drama continued in the district office, party leaders including the Opposition leader, GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar, vice-presidents Altinho Gomes and M K Sheikh were found seated in silence.
Attempts by the district committee members and some of Savio’s supporters to calm down frayed tempers had no takers as the party leaders were bracing up to address the media on some other issue.
Tension was palpable at the fag end of the drama when Benjamin’s supporters booed Julio and they rallied behind the former Independent MLA.
