the goan I network
MARGAO
Benaulim Block Congress Committee president Edwin Barretto and former Varca Sarpanch Anthony Pinto had emerged as strong contenders for the Benaulim seat after their names were recommended by the South Goa district committee for the party ticket.
After Monday’s development, wherein the former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao joined the NCP after being snubbed by Congress leaders, both the Edwin and Pinto families have no idea whether the Benaulim seat will be left for the NCP in the event the party leadership decides to have a tie-up with
the Sharad Pawar-led national party.
“I have no idea for the moment over the emerging developments. As the block president I do not know whether Churchill has joined the NCP on the assumption that the NCP and the Congress will fight the coming elections together,” Edwin said, while asserting that he would call on the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Luizinho Faleiro for more information on the emerging developments.
On the other hand, Anthony Pinto’s brother Nazario said he does not think that the Congress will have a tie-up with the NCP in the coming election. “Immediately after yesterday’s development, I contacted a senior Congress leader who has said that there’s no proposal as of now with the Congress party to forge an alliance with the NCP,” Nazario stated.
Incidentally, sources in the Congress party informed that the party may give an important position for Anthony Pinto in the party.
Churchill’s decision to embrace the NCP may also raise many an eyebrow in the Maria Rebello camp as a section of Congress leadership were wooing her to join the party and stake claim for the Benaulim ticket.
The three-time Benaulim Zilla Panchayat member has started her campaign in the right earnest ahead of 2017 election, but she has till date not taken a decision on which party banner to contest.
