Congress wavers, TMC clear on nominee for Cortalim

Congress wavers, TMC clear on nominee for Cortalim
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
CORTALIM: With the Congress still dragging their feet in announcing the candidature for Cortalim seat, the newly launched Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the State appears to be fielding its candidate for Cortalim.
Admitting that he would be contesting on TMC ticket, former Cortalim-Quelossim sarpanch Tolentino D’Souza, a civil engineer and a prominent road contractor from Curpawado-Cortalim, told Herald that he would be contesting from Cortalim.
D’Souza who belongs to the ST community could spoil Congress chances of propagating its ST card at the hustings.
After having projected Raymond De Sa for quite some time, the Congress Party seems to have now zeroed on Cortalim ZP member Cynthia D’Silva, who is also the State Mahila President. For a few days, another ST community member and Quelossim Panch Caitano Xavier, was also figuring in the probable list of the Congress candidates.
Another prominent ST leader and long serving Cortalim Panch Anthony Vaz who is disillusion by the BJP moves to nominate Matanhy Saldanha for Cortalim however refused to divulge his plans. “I am adopting a wait and watch policy and I will take a call at the right time. At present, I am still in the BJP,” Vaz told Herald.
Vaz, who polled over 4,700 votes in 2002 polls on BJP ticket, saw Saldanha tasting first victory after several defeats at the Assembly polls. In 2007 assembly polls, however, the BJP supported Saldanha on UGDP plank, as a return favour for the latter’s unflinching support to the saffron party.
Vaz claims that he was promised a BJP ticket for 2012 polls in return for support to Saldanha for 2002 polls, which now appears to be very unlikely. Dr Wilfred de Souza, president of TMC  however said that the list of candidates contesting the elections is yet to be finalised.No decision has been taken as yet, de Souza told Herald.