MARGAO: Sitting MP Francisco Sardinha returned home on Sunday, while the Churchill-Valanka duo continues to be holed up in the national capital as suspense continues to dog the Congress over party candidate for South Goa.
While Congressmen kept their fingers crossed, with no indications coming
from the high command, the Reginald Lourenco’s camp appeared somewhat upbeat, saying the party leadership is expected to release the candidate list anytime from now.
Sardinha, who returned home on Sunday noon, said there’s no confirmation from the central leadership over the South Goa candidate. “I have received no confirmation from the party leadership during my visit to Delhi. Nor, have I received any indications till date,” Sardinha said.
On the other hand, Churchill maintained that the party leadership is now expected to announce the party candidate for South Goa on March 18. “Today was a Sunday, while Monday is Holi. We can expect the party leadership to announce the candidate only on Tuesday,” Churchill said.
Churchill, who is lobbying hard for the South Goa ticket to daughter Valanka, had met a host of party leaders in the national capital, including AICC general secretary in-charge of Goa desk, Digvijay Singh.
The former PWD minister, who claimed that he was called by Digvijay Singh, is believed to have called on the Defence Minister A K Anthony on Sunday, exuded optimism that daughter Valanka would get the Congress nomination in South Goa. “Valanka has staked the claim on merit. When the party talks about youth and women empowerment, she should get the ticket,” Churchill said.
Sources said the former PWD minister, who had initially thrown his weight behind Sardinha when AICC general secretary Luizinho Faleiro had emerged as the front runner for the South Goa ticket, is now upset with MLA Reginaldo for suddenly entering the ticket race.
Meanwhile, the Reginaldo camp was found upbeat on Sunday evening after it received some indications from the central party about his candidature. The camp, however, kept its fingers crossed late in the evening with no formal announcement on the candidate coming in from the national capital.
