NAVELIM: Dusk fell to a light evening breeze. Yet another day in the hectic campaign journey had supposedly concluded, But actually, it had just started for Valanka who is quite at ease with her “Goddaughter space”, where Valanka is carrying on the political legacy of Luizinho in the bastion of the Falerio’s, Navelim.
When it appeared that the veteran Luizinho, now Rajya Sabha member didn’t quite want to contest, Navelkars wondered who would take over his baton, for this election.
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With Churchill and Valanka joining Trinamool Congress (TMC), Luizinho, who she called ‘Godfather’ held Valanka’s hand and literally walked with her through the bylines of the village. Of course, another former Navelim MLA and her father Churchill had been by her side too, making this generation Valanka hemmed in by two of the seniormost mass leaders of Goa, b kith former Chief Ministers and now back in the same party TMC
At a very impressive public meeting in her constituency on Thursday as her long campaign reaches its closing stages, she said, “I’m thankful to each and everyone for showing up in large numbers especially women who have shown immense faith in me and come out in large numbers today. I promise to represent you at every opportunity given to me. Girl education is something that is not spoken about. The situation needs to change and I will do everything in my power to support this cause.”
Throwing his weight behind Valanka’s candidature, Luizinho Faleiro said, ‘I am your friend and a family member to every citizen of this panchayat, and I assure you development and good governance.’
This has been perceived to be a big boost for Valanka’s campaign as she doesn’t have to compete with Luzinho, but can try and consolidate his vote share and add to it her father’s vote share in the constituency.
Valanka also enjoys the support of the Navelim Zilla Panchayat (ZP) member Edwin alias Cipru Cardozo and thereby has his vote share in the constituency as well.
For political observers, the victory of Cardozo in last year’s ZP elections, where he beat the then Congress ZP candidate Pratima Coutinho, who is now the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Navelim candidate, was the biggest testament to the influence the Alemaos have in the constituency.
Churchill and Valanka had backed Cardozo who had stood as an independent and he is now campaigning for Valanka across Navelim where she has held several corner and public meetings.
According to Cardozo, the support Valanka is getting is the support her father had received a decade ago when he had successfully contested the 2007 elections.
“Everyone talks of development but what Churchill had done for Navelim went beyond just development. He was always there for the people, would always help out when they needed assistance and they still remember this,” said Cardozo.
People recall not just the support her father had given them but how Valanka had also been there for them in their time of need.
“Valanka has done a lot for Navelim and is not new to social work here. She is always offering a helping hand and is that way carrying forward the legacy of her father. Anyone can go to her day or night and she will go out of her way for them. Being a good human being is the priority of a Goan and she personifies that and more,” said Prema Rosario from Navelim.
Interestingly, Valanka has managed to shrug off the reputation her detractors mentioned in the past of her being arrogant. The locals, who she has met in her campaign, which began in September 2021 itself, say this is not the case and that she is very approachable and easy to talk to and that they see a leader in her.
Minguel Fernandes, an ex-panch from the constituency whose wife was also an ex-panch, says the people have trust in Valanka, they believe that she can do the work just the way her father had worked for them.
