TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM:Prasad Gaonkar who had contested the last Assembly election as an Independent, and had polled close to 5700 votes has today expressed support to the Congress South Goa Candidate Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. Amid rumors that he would be joining the BJP, he today clarified that the rumor was absolutely false and that he could not support the BJP against the wishes of his supporters.
In the wake of senior congress leaders like Digambar Kamat Subhash Shirodkar and now Aleixo Sequeira exhibiting their solidarity with Reginaldo Lourenco, today’s statement by Prasad Goankar is a big shot in the arm for the Congress’s prospects in South Goa.
In addition just yesterday the BJP Cortalim President Dr Marconi Correia declared from the stage at the Congress meeting held at Cansaulim that he and his entire group of supporters would back and work for Reginaldo and that he would be sure whould lead n the Cortalim Assembly segment. This support for Reginald cutting across party lines and all political barriers will surely boost his chances to make it to Delhi.
Today Shri Prasad Gaonkar, speaking at his office in Sanguem, said that he has decided to declare his full support to the Congress candidate Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. He rubbished all rumors about news that he was supposed to join the BJP and said that he would never do so keeping in mind their communal identity. Gaonkar said that he will urge all his supporters to help Reginaldo in the upcoming election and will ensure he gets a huge lead in the constituency. He further explained that by having the support of the congress party he can ensure a better support for Reginald as he had polled close to 6000 votes in the Assembly. Gaonkar also said that he and his constituents had seen enough of the ‘dadagiri’ of the BJP and will not tolerate all this further. He said that though he contested as an Independent candidate he will cover as much ground as possible in the next two days to ensure Reginaldo gets a thumping majority in Sanguem.
Reginaldo said that he was grateful to Mr. Gaonkar for his support and will not let him down when elected as the MP on May 16. He said he will help him raise all his issues in the Parliament that need central govt intervention and help get work done in the constituency with central funds wherever possible.
GPCC chief John Fernandes said that he is grateful that a young candidate from the 2012 election who contested as an independent is helping Reginaldo who also happens to be a young face being introduced to Parliamentary politics. He said that the youth need to come forward and take opportunities like these to enter main stream politics as he as the President of the Congress party in Goa is trying to infuse young blood in the party. He too said he was grateful for this gesture and said this gesture will not be forgotten by the Congress party and that the Congress party is always open to him for any help.
Lastly, Independent MLA from Fatorda Vijai Sardesai said that he is very happy that another young Independent aspirant of the 2012 assembly election has pledged support to Reginaldo and has thus again proved how the state is not happy with the BJP govt. He said that the misdeeds of the govt are in public domain and that a befitting reply should be given to the govt so that the BJP is taught a lesson that their goondaism will not be tolerated further.
Also present at the meeting was AICC Secretary Girish Chodankar, ex MLA of Curchorem Shyam Satardekar, Curchorem Congress Block President John D’costa and a crowd of supporters of Prasad Gaonkar.
