Team Herald
MARGAO: Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao stated that defectors will not be given a chance to contest the next elections on the Congress party symbol.
Alemao, the Cuncolim Congress MLA, was responding to queries from media persons about speculation regarding future plans of the party in view of the 2027 Assembly elections and if defectors would be allowed to rejoin.
“This is something we are very clear about. Defectors will never be taken in the Congress party. Congress has certain values, ideals and it is a young Congress now,” said Alemao.
Stating that young and dynamic leaders would be given a chance, Alemao said that the three MLAs who remained with the party including himself, at the time when other former Congress MLAs defected to the BJP, respect the mandate that was given to them by the voters and decided to stay in the opposition only.
“We have to respect the mandate given by the people” Alemao added.
The party has also been holding district level meetings with all of its block presidents to discuss and evaluate their strategies.
He stressed that the party is taking the lead from the young leaders be it the State president Amit Patkar or South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes who have been moving around across the State fighting for the public.
Alemao said that despite their short numbers, Congress and the other Opposition MLAs had successfully taken on the government in the recently-concluded Assembly session through detailed research and then coordinating the questions and approach on the floor of the House.
He said that they will continue to be a vociferous Opposition and take up the issues of the common man and speak out against the wrongdoings of the government.
Alemao also hit out at the BJP for constantly trying to poach MLAs in order to stay in power irrespective of who the voters had voted for.
He also pointed out the party has the support of voters across the State and the victory in the South Goa Parliamentary elections showed that the party is still very active in Goa and he had added this is due to the work of the party workers on the ground.