Marcos Gonsalves
CURTORIM: Several supporters and people of Curtorim Constituency on Saturday expressed disappointment for denying ministerial berth to their MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco in the new BJP government in the State.
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Elected as an Independent MLA, Reginaldo declared unconditional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party in forming the new government. However, four-time MLA Aleixo Reginaldo missed the bus to get the ministerial berth.
At the same time few have gone a step ahead and said these situations are like a “tit for tat” to Reginaldo. However, many are in shock after they heard that Curtorim MLA was denied the Cabinet berth, despite having close tie-ups with the BJP before and after the Assembly elections.
On Saturday Team Herald travelled to a few places of Curtorim constituency, and met people in order to find out their reactions. It was observed that close supporters, besides the public in general, were very much disappointed with the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant for not including their MLA as one of the ministers.
Speaking to Herald, Ashwin Kumar Naik, a close supporter of Reginaldo said it is wrong from the part of BJP to deny a cabinet berth to the Curtorim MLA.
“We had high expectations that Reginaldo would be chosen as one of the ministers in the government. He could have been a representative of not only Curtorim but the whole Salcete taluka”, he stated.
He further said that denial of ministry to Reginaldo is a big loss to BJP.
“It is injustice on the people of Curtorim and Salcete. Sudin Dhavlikar got a ministry, despite being responsible for damaging the BJP in Ponda taluka, then why not Reginaldo?” Ashwin asked.
Judas Quadros, another supporter of Reginaldo, also expressed disappointment for denying ministry to the Curtorim MLA.
Agreeing the same Santano J. Rodrigues reacted strongly and said that BJP have betrayed Reginaldo.
“Denying ministry to Reginaldo means BJP failed in ‘Mission Salcete’. BJP betrayed him by assuring cabinet berth and not fulfilling it. . They should have awarded the Curtorim MLA at least for his support, which was declared immediately after winning the election”, he said.
According to Santano, not including Reginaldo in the cabinet will surely affect the BJP in Salcete.
However, Basilio Fernandes, from Camurlim categorically stated that it is ‘tit for tat’.
