Team Herald
MARGAO: “The arrogant attitude of the Congress, failing to recognize the Scheduled Tribes community, despite full support besides the directionless Congress leadership in Fatorda has made us joins Bharatiya Janata Party. More important is that the ongoing efforts to have an alliance between Congress and Goa Forward Party side-lining the Congress workers is one of reasons to depart from the Congress,” said Joseph Silva and Piedade Noronha, both speaking in identical voices
Speaking to Herald Joseph and Piedade has listed several reasons for parting away from Congress.
Joseph and Piedade are two known influential local leaders of the ST community from Fatorda who were with the Congress for a very long period of time. However, the ongoing talks about the alliance between Congress and GFP have made both of them say goodbye to Congress.
Both of them said they would work towards defeating Sardesai in the Fatorda constituency.
“It was ST leaders like me who managed to change Vijai’s image amongst the ST community by convincing people at the personal level. I stood behind him for many years, thinking that he will do well for the people of Fatorda and for the ST community. But he had a hidden agenda in his mind,” alleged Joseph.
He said that a complete change was noticed; soon he was being elected as an MLA and thereafter a Deputy Chief Minister of Goa.
Citing the reasons to leave the Congress party he said that the Congress has become directionless in Fatorda. “Congress has no leader to guide the workers and people in Fatorda. Neither party nor the senior leaders had supported me in the last assembly elections, despite being a Congress candidate. But, still, we stood behind the party, thinking one or the other day party will improve in Fatorda, which they failed to date,” said Joseph.
He said that they were not ready to accept the alliance of Congress with the Goa Forward Party. “And this made my decision to make an entry in the BJP party,” he said.
Meanwhile, Piedade Noronha who was with the Congress party for nearly 28 years is very much upset with Congress leaders for ignoring the people of the Fatorda constituency.
“Congress party is planning to have an alliance with GFP, and that too without consulting the officer bearers of Fatorda block committee and hardcore workers. This is one of the main reasons we left the party,” she said.
She, besides other Congress workers of Fatorda, are very much de-moralized due to the approach of Congress leaders.
“Vijai always used to allege stating we are the B team of BJP. Actually, we were in the party till August 16. But it was Vijai who joined the BJP government after getting elected in the last assembly elections, and that too by cheating the trust of the voters who voted him,” Piedade said.
