TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Congress has suffered a setback even before its campaign could begin for the Lok Sabha polls in South Goa, with the Dabolim Block Congress virtually ruling out any support to the Congress candidate for South Goa.
The Dabolim Block Congress and the Block Mahila Congress took the decision on Wednesday after being miffed with the GPCC President John Fernandes for having failed to apologize to Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho and to retract his adverse remarks on Godinho at a public meeting in Margao.
Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, Dabolim Mahila Congress President Anita Thorat stated that their 72-hour deadline had passed and Fernandes had failed to tender an unconditional apology.
“The Dabolim Mahila Congress committee and all other supporters have decided not to support the Congress South Goa candidate,” she stated.
“The Congress had neglected Godinho even when he was Cortalim MLA and though he was assured developmental works, the then chief minister Digambar Kamat failed to live up to his promise,” said Thorat.
Dabolim Congress Block President Swapnish Gaonkar said the remark against Godinho was not only an insult to Godinho, but to all Congress workers of Dabolim constituency. “We will neither support the Congress candidate nor will we allow Godinho to work in the Lok Sabha election,” stated Gaonkar.
Ligorio Monteiro claimed that it was too late for Fernandes to tender an apology, as the deadline given to him had lapsed. “Under no circumstances will we support the Congress candidate,” he said.
When brought to his notice that South Goa Congress candidate Reginaldo Lourenco had supported Godinho at the time of Fernandes’ alleged remarks against Godinho, Montero replied: “The Congress workers from Dabolim constituency have decided not to support any Congress candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.”
Former Chicalim sarpanch and Panch Anacleto D’Souza said the disparaging remarks made by Fernandes were an insult to Congress workers from Dabolim constituency.
“All developmental works in Dabolim constituency are due to the efforts of Godinho and we will support him whatever decision he takes,” added D’Souza.
Bogmallo Sarpanch Laximan Kavlekar and former Chicalim sarpanch Marie Mascarenhas also spoke at the news conference.
