Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: While ex-MLA Joaquim Alemao, who is presently busy with the municipal elections, is hopeful of getting a ticket from the Congress to contest the 2017 assembly elections, Curtorim ZP member and Congress ticket-aspirant Clafasio Dias will soon open the Cuncolim Congress block office, which will be inaugurated by GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro.
According to Clafasio – who is a favourite to get the Congress ticket – the Congress high command has given him the green signal to start his campaign in Cuncolim. He has already started planning to get all flocks of the party together and has already started his campaign in Paroda, Ambaulim, Chandor, Guirdolim and Macazana.
Dias wanted to make his entry in Cuncolim politics with a big bang. He has been involved in several events in Cuncolim to gain the support of Congress workers. With the BJP losing ground in Cuncolim – evident as it won just two seats at the municipal elections – Dias’ supporters have stated that they received signals from Congress leaders to not let this opportunity go.
Clafasio opening the Cuncolim office has been a cause of worry for the Congress leaders vying for the party ticket. He stated that he has the backing of the Congress and that he is getting a good response from the party workers. He said, “Many Congress workers have approached me and they are ready to work with me. I am starting an office in Cuncolim to unite all the workers who have gone far away from party and also to bring together all loyal workers who have been neglected by the previous MLA. I am confident that I will get the ticket and we will regain the Cuncolim seat.”
On the other hand, Alemao has not lost hope of getting the Congress ticket. He said, “I am a loyal Congressman and I have never left the party. I am not involved in any scam nor am I too old to be denied the ticket. When I was MLA, many offers came to me to leaev the Congress, but I have not done that because of my loyalty to the party. I have done a lot of work in Cuncolim constituency and Cuncolkars are still with me. They once again showed their support to me in the municipal elections. I see no reason why Congress can cut my ticket. Congress leaders for their selfish gains cancelled my PCC membership. If they deny me a ticket, I will contest the assembly elections on the people’s ticket. I have already started my campaign. I’ll go to every door to garner support.”
Meanwhile, Congress workers question if the party will be able to keep its flock together. They pointed out that Congress is a divided house in Cuncolim, with every leader facing different directions. There are many aspirants in Cuncolim, like former assembly contestant John Monteiro and former Cuncolim municipality chairperson Devendra Dessai. It remains to be seen what these aspirants will do if they are denied the ticket.
