For a moment, Congress-turned-BJP leader Filipe Nery Rodrigues, was caught off guard, literally after he defended his decision to contest the ensuing polls on the NCP banner. As he explained that NCP’s secular ideology is similar to that of the Congress party, a scribe posed a pointed query at Filipe Nery, seeking to know whether he does not consider BJP a secular party. Aware that a yes or no reply will put him in the dock, more so after enjoying honeymoon with the saffron brigade for the last two years, Filipe Nery wriggled out of the situation by saying BJP has no base in Saxttidom.
Questions over Menino’s last minute switch
Benaulikars are trying to figure out how Block Congress president Menino Fernandes landed in the Trinamool Congress. Just a few days ago, Menino was openly batting for flamboyant Mickky Pacheco for the Congress ticket, when there were as many as five aspirants for the party ticket. With Mickky quitting the party to embrace the NCP to contest from his home constituency Nuvem, Menino lost no time to resign from the Congress and join the TMC to support Churchill Alemao.
Reginaldo optimistic of retaining seat
Former Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco sounded confident of retaining the Curtorim seat when he came to file his nomination papers earlier this week. In fact, perhaps for the first time since he had switched parties, over the last two months, Reginaldo appears right back in the battle. After losing ground on his home turf initially, the former Congress MLA is out to prove a point or two to the leaders, responsible behind the decision not to reopen doors for him.
Capt Venzy calls for Benaulim revolution
Aam Aadmi Party’s Capt Venzy Viegas was at his usual best when he came to file his nomination papers for the Benaulim seat. With supporters swarming around with AAP symbol Broom, Venzy appeared confidence personified when he spoke about liberation and ushering a revolution in Benaulim in the coming polls. Having lost no stone unturned to corner the sitting MLA over the last two years, Venzy and his army of volunteers appear ready for the last leg of the ongoing battle.
Yuri silences opponents, says Cuncolim resident
House No. 11/118 in Cuncolim falls in the Kegdicotto area of the Cuncolim Municipal area. Not much significance would have been attached to this particular house number in normal times. But, it’s election time. And, a glance of the affidavit filed by Congress candidate for Cuncolim constituency Yuri Alemao states that he is a resident of House No. 11/118, Kegdicotto-Cuncolim. Sources say Yuri had shifted his residence to Cuncolim months before the 2022 election in a bid to silence opponents raking up his outsider status. Any takers?
