MARGAO
On a day when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant showered praises on Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, only to be reciprocated by the three-time MLA, indicating the growing bonhomie between the two leaders, Congress emissaries late Friday descended on the Curtorim residence of the irrepressible MLA.
The presence of the Congress emissaries at Reginaldo’s residence assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of reports that the three-time MLA may finally part ways with the national party ahead of the 2022 Assembly election.
In fact, call it a sheer coincidence or otherwise, the Congress emissaries descended on Reginaldo’s residence late Friday on a day when the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant earlier in the day showered praises on the opposition MLA for carrying out development work in the constituency.
The inauguration of the Maina Curtorim police station’s new premises at Manora-Raia left tongues wagging after the Chief Minister during the virtual inauguration publicly endorsed and patted the Curtorim MLA, saying Reginaldo is doing good work in his constituency. That’s not all. The Chief Minister went a step further and pointed out that Reginaldo takes up public issues and gets them addressed to the satisfaction of the people. “This is the reason why the people are with Reginaldo”, Sawant said.
While promising the government’s full support to the Curtorim MLA to address all issues facing Curtorim, the Chief Minister promised to take up the renovation of the Curtoirm Primary Health Centre at the earliest.
Reginaldo too spoke highly of the Chief Minister, saying the Chief Minister has concern for the people. “Before the police station inauguration, the Chief Minister called me to find out where the polling booth would be shifted once the police station is housed in the government school. I told him not to worry as the adjoining Balwadi would take care of the polling booth.”
He later parried a question when pointed out that he and the Chief Minister share a perfect rapport. And, he evaded another query when asked if he intends to join the BJP. He said that he was a Congressman who had not moved out from the party when others had quit to embrace the ruling dispensation.
Sources informed the Congress MLA had later headed to North Goa to wish BJP leader and Minister Michael Lobo on his birthday. And, when he reached home later Friday, he was shocked to find a couple of Congress leaders at his residence, reportedly to find out the issue he has with local leadership.
“I don’t want to say anything on the visit of the Congress emissaries. They had visited my place. We discussed party issues. That’s all”, he informed.
Reports have been doing the rounds in political circles that the three-time Congress MLA may quit the party in the run up to the polls. While leaders of a political outfit had reportedly given an offer to join the party, close supporters of the Congress MLA have advised him not to act in haste, and that he could even explore the possibility of contesting as an Independent candidate.
