MARGAO: The boost to INDIA Bloc in South Goa with the victory of the Congress candidate Captain Viriato Fernandes in the Lok Sabha elections caused a flutter within the Congress party camp and residents of Benaulim, who were hoping that Congress would field its own candidate for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) by-poll.
It may be recalled the then Congress candidate for the ZP Benaulim elections, Royla Fernandes had filed a disqualification petition against AAP’s Benaulim ZP Member Hanzel Fernandes, arguing that he did not belong to the OBC category, since the Benaulim seat was reserved for the OBC category. Her petition was upheld by the Administrative Tribunal, which scrapped Hanzel’s election following confirmation of his ineligibility by the High Court. This led to the bypoll.
However, recently with the formation of the INDIA Bloc and AAP supporting the Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, everybody is wondering whether the Bloc would be retained for the ZP by-poll or discontinued.
While a section of the Congress top leadership favours continuing with the alliance and supporting AAP’s candidate for the ZP elections, there are some from within the party and outside, who want Congress to field its own candidate to strengthen the party’s foothold in Benaulim.
Before Tuesday, a decision had been taken by both AAP and Congress leadership that a call regarding this issue would be taken after the Lok Sabha elections.
However, with INDIA Bloc candidate, Captain Viriato Fernandes winning the election, AAP’s Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas made it clear that the alliance would continue even post Lok Sabha elections, indirectly hinting that AAP would be the one fielding a candidate for ZP by-poll, not the Congress.
Sources said that this view was being supported by some leaders in the Congress as a way of thanking AAP for not fielding a candidate for the Lok Sabha elections and continuing the alliance for the next State Assembly elections as well.
The fact that Benaulim received the highest lead in Salcete for the India Alliance is also a major point being taken into consideration.
If Congress does not field a candidate, it is likely a new Benaulim-based political front will be formed, which would field a candidate against the AAP’s candidate for the ZP Benaulim by-poll.
