SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: Cuncolim Congress Committee has selected Yuri Alemao as the lone prospective Congress candidate in Cuncolim Constituency while supporters of Elvis Gomes claimed the move as a farce.
The agitated Elvis’ supporters blamed Congress leaders for the favouritism shown by selecting only one name for Cuncolim Constituency in the absence of Elvis, who is out of the country. They stated that the matter will be taken up by national leader Rahul Gandhi.
The Saturday’s meeting held at the residence of Block President Assis Noronha, it is learnt that the 64 members belonging to Yuri’s camp were included in the Cuncolim Congress Block committee while none of 35 persons suggested from Elvis group were selected. Elvis’s supporters claimed that this decision was taken in the absence of Elvis, who is out of the country.
Supporters of Elvis questioned how none of his supporters were included in the block committee and only those who supported Yuri were included.
It is reliably learnt that the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar and other Goa Congress officials had issued instructions to the Cuncolim Block Committee President that the members should belong to both the factions -- Yuri’s as well as those of Elvis.
Elvis’ supporters alleged that the local Congress leaders betrayed Elvis by taking the opportunity of him being outside the country and appointed the block committee members in his absence.
It is also learnt that at a joint meeting of Cuncolim Congress supporters from both groups, it was decided to give equal representation for members of both the groups. But sadly, a Congress source said that knowing that Elvis was out of the country, Yuri’s supporters took advantage of the situation and appointed only supporters of Alemao as members of the Cuncolim Block Congress Committee.
Yuri-supported block committee saw that Elvis, who is also an aspirant for Congress ticket in Cuncolim Constituency, be sidelined and none of the Yuri-supported block committee member proposed Elvis’ name.
Elvis supporters are agitated over the selection criteria and termed it as a farce. Just one day before the candidate selection meeting Block President Noronha had appointed 64-member block committee out of which all are Yuri supporters.
According to Elvis supporters, Elvis has suggested 35 names and the Congress State leaders had directed to select 35 names from Yuri supporters for block committee unfortunately Noronha has not even included even a single Elvis’ supporter in the committee.
In a joint meeting of Congress supporters from both the groups, it was decided to give equal participation to Yuri and Elvis’ supporters in the block committee.
Congress State Observer M K Shaikh and Central Observer Rathore, who were present as observers at the block committee meeting, did not object to the unilateral decision of the block committee.
The party's National Observer and former Union Minister P Chidambaram had warned the block president not to support any aspiring candidate and to remain neutral and impartial.
When Herald tried to contact Elvis to know his reaction, he could not be contacted since he is out of country.
