MARGAO
He further said that he will make way for son Yuri only in the event the Congress leadership insists on new and young faces. Yuri, however, said that he and the workers are all supporting Joaquim’s comeback in Cuncolim, saying that he presently is a member of the NCP.
The former Cuncolim MLA received a boost in his comeback campaign when the Sarpanch of Guirdolim Panchayat Sonia Dias along with her ruling group extended their support to him. In another development, noted tiatrist and Guirdolim former Sarpanch Milagres de Chandor, who is a member of the BJP, also extended support to Joaquim saying that the BJP leadership, other than Vishnu Wagh, did not even bother to inquire about his health when he had taken ill.
Addressing the media, Joaquim said the sarpanchas and panch members of the panchayats in Cuncolim constituency are supporting him because of his past work. “When I had lost the 2012 election, I had accepted the people’s mandate and had extended support to MLA Rajan Naik. But ask the people of Cuncolim and they will tell what sort of development has taken place in the constituency during the last four years,” he said, adding the MLA has even failed to maintain the projects executed during
his tenure.
Accusing the BJP of not even maintaining street lights, Joaquim said the party only makes tall promises and U-turns on these later. “If the government continues to neglect Cuncolim, I will use my money to take up development. People are not even getting regular power supply as power is diverted to the industrial estate,” he alleged.
Saying he is very much a member of the Congress, Joaquim asserted that he was never suspended by the party leadership. “I am receiving invitations to attend party meetings, but I have kept away since the time I was removed from the PCC,” he said, while categorically stating that he would contest as an independent if the Congress denies him the ticket. Addressing the media, Guirdolim Sarpanch Sonia Dias said the ruling group has decided to support Joaquim taking into account the work done by him in the constituency during his 10-year tenure.
