TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Brushing aside a strong challenge to her candidature, Valanka Alemao on Monday romped home with a comfortable victory to become the new president of Goa unit of the Youth Congress.
Barred from contesting the Youth Congress polls two years ago on the grounds that she was found canvassing for support to her candidature, Valanka proved her detractors, including party MLAs and heavyweights, wrong that the YC polls will be a closely fought affair. She has won the election by a margin of 168 votes, leaving his immediate rival, Xavier Fialho far behind. While Valanka polled 530 votes, Xavier had to be content with only 362 votes. Incidentally, the daughter of Goa Pradesh Congress Party Chief Subhash Shirodkar, Gauri Shirodkar, polled only 38 votes. Varad Mardolkar (92), Gautam Bhagat (33) and Savio Alemao (3) were the other candidates.
After her victory, a beaming Valanka thanked the youth Congress members for reposing their faith in her. She also thanked God for her success, and said she felt good after receiving support from the youth of Goa.
Her victory triggered jubilations in her camp outside the counting hall. As news of her victory went out of the counting hall, her friends, relatives and supporters celebrated the victory as slogans in support of her and father Churchill Alemao rent the air outside the counting hall.
Sources in the know said Valanka is reported to have polled heavily in the constituencies of Benaulim, Navelim, Fatorda, Velim, Ponda, besides other segments. Plans to upset her apple cart by shifting votes in favour of Xavier Fialho could not materialise as she is believed to have also polled substantial votes in Curchorem, Sanvordem, Sanguem and Quepem as well.
Though open canvassing for the Youth Congress polls is not allowed, the Valanka camp and her rivals, including some Congress MLAs, left no stone unturned to cover as much ground as possible to gain support of the Youth Congress members. The Alemao camp had also accused the rivals within the party for raking up family raj as a last ditch attempt to stop Valanka from winning the polls.
