Supporters of Independent candidate Nelly Rodrigues came out strongly in her support at a media briefing.
MARGAO
A day after former South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chairperson Nelly Rodrigues filed her nomination as an Independent candidate after being denied the Congress ticket, her ardent supporters, including former MLA Radharao Gracias, both sitting and former panchayat members, have vowed to teach the Congress a befitting lesson.
They held a Congress “office-bearer” behind the Congress decision to reject Nelly’s application for the party ticket. They wondered whether the Congress block committees are there to back good and capable candidates or to promote the interests of the builders’ lobby.
Radharao, in particular, predicted that Nelly would sweep the election for the Colva seat, saying the Congress leadership did not assess the situation nor consult the people who matter in politics.
Addressing the media at Majorda, Radharao said he, along with all the people, including Nelly, had assembled in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election to chalk out a strategy to ensure the victory of MP Viriato Fernandes. “The Congress had no better candidate than Nelly, who is known for her grassroots work. The Congress now says the party blocks have taken a decision on the candidates. But it appears the blocks have blocked good candidates. The Congress blocks will see the ground reality when the results are out,” he added.
Majorda Deputy Sarpanch Creson Antao charged the Congress with using the supporters and later dumping them after the election. “We had all met here in Majorda to drum up support for Viriato in the 2024 LS election. Today, when we needed their support, they did not give it to us,” he said.
Creson charged the Congress with nominating candidates without checking the candidates’ background. “The people of Colva ZP constituency will show the Congress its standing. The Congress only wants us to vote and they give the tickets without consulting the people,” he said.
Majorda Sarpanch Anthea Pereira also extended her full support to Nelly in the coming polls.
Former Colva panchayat member Calvert Gonsalves charged that certain builder lobbies were behind the decision to deny the ticket to Nelly. “We will teach the Congress block and the party. The people will ensure that the Congress finishes third in the election,” he added.
Nelly told the media that she has been denied the ticket as per the “setting” in the Congress. “The Congress leaders say they have gone by the block. In Guirdolim, the party has given the ticket to the BJP sitting ZP member’s husband. Since the party had nothing to defend, they are raking up the BJP angle. People will teach them a befitting lesson,” Nelly said.
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AAP challenges Nelly’s candidature in Colva
MARGAO: In an interesting development, Aam Admi Party Colva candidate Anthony Fernandes filed his objection to the candidature of Independent candidate Nelly Rodrigues on the ground that she was holding an office of profit as she has been appointed as “Administrator” of the Goa Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan (GPMSA)—a State government programme—by the Directorate of Panchayats.
The office of the Returning Officer, however, put up a remark on the application filed by the AAP candidate, stating that the objection was submitted to the office after the scrutiny was over.
Meanwhile, Nelly produced her resignation letter addressed to the Director of Panchayats, stating that she had tendered her resignation from the post of Administrator of Goa Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan on December 8. Nelly pointed out in the letter that she is resigning from the post since she is contesting the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections from the Colva ZP seat. “How can the AAP candidate object to my candidature when I have already resigned from the post of Administrator?” Nelly wondered, saying that the AAP candidate has filed the objection without any basis.
In his objection, AAP candidate Anthony Fernandes pointed out that as per official records, Nelly has been appointed as “Administrator” of the Goa Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan (GPMSA)—a State government programme—by the Directorate of Panchayats. “The post of Administrator/President under GPMSA is a government-appointed position, involving remuneration/benefits, authority, financial powers, administrative responsibilities and direct control under the Directorate of Panchayats. Thus, she is currently holding an office of profit under the Government, which directly attracts disqualification for contesting Zilla Panchayat elections,” he said.
