PANJIM: With less than 24 hours left for the election campaign to end, Congress party has inducted former Benaulim MLA Caetano Silva into the party fold in a bid to garner votes from the constituency in support of their South Goa candidate.
Silva, former Goa Vikas Party (GVP) MLA, was part of the BJP-led State government from 2012-March to 2017. He was defeated by NCP MLA Churchill Alemao from Benaulim in 2017 polls.
Addressing media persons, Congress spokesperson Agnelo Fernandes said that Silva’s entry into party would further strengthen party’s base in South Goa.
On the occasion, Silva said that he is confident about giving Congress’ South Goa candidate Francisco Sardinha a lead of at least 6000 votes in Benaulim constituency.
He said that he accepted the proposal from party President Girish Chodankar to join Congress after he observed that the constituency stood neglected by the party. “I was surprised to see that Congress did not make its presence felt in Benaulim constituency. Hence, I decided to join,” he said.
Claiming that he helped BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections to gain votes in Salcette, Silva now wants people to vote for Congress. “I urge Ramponnkars to come out in support of Congress,” he said.
The former MLA also urged Aam Aadmi Party supporters not to divide votes but support Sardinha’s candidature.
Silva also slammed BJP for failing to fulfill promises like grant of special status to Goa and benefit of dual citizenship.
