MAPUSA: On Valentine’s Day the people of Mapusa, the political fraternity, family and friends were left heart broken and shocked following the death of the Mapusa MLA, Francis Dsouza who had won the hearts of thousands of people across Bardez.
This is evident from the fact that he won the state assembly election for the fifth time in Goa in 2017. One can recall that he received 10,957 votes and won by a margin of 6828 against MGP’s Vinod Phadke. While in the 2012 assembly election, D’Souza won by a margin of 10,169 votes.
Despite being loyal to the party for 20 years he was dropped from his ministry as Urban Development Minister on September 24, 2018 due to his ill-health. He was very upset with this decision and opined that it was the reward given to him for his loyalty towards the party.
On hearing the news of his demise over 500 people gathered outside his residence at Mapusa on late Thursday evening to confirm the news. The body was brought to this residence in an ambulance and later placed in an electric coffin at around 9.30 pm.
The Chairperson of MMC, Ryan Braganza said the death of the Mapusa MLA has caused a big loss to the state of Goa and for Mapxencars in particular.”For me it is a personal loss. He was a great leader and a through gentleman. Always humble and a soft-spoken person. He was a leader of the masses and respected across party lines. He has served the state of Goa as Deputy CM, five times MLA and twice the President of MMC,” said Ryan.
While the Aldona Block President, Franky Carvalho told Herald that Francis will be dearly missed as he was a leader of the masses and would always be there for his people. “We have lost Goa’s tallest leaders who was a very helpful and dedicated politician. He never said no to anyone who approached him for help.
Goa will always remember him for his goodwill. His demise has come as a shock to us as we did not expect he would go so soon. On February 13 he celebrated his wedding anniversary. Despite being unwell during the last eight days he has been signing forms of his voters who have applied for Griha Adhar and Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS). He was working for his people till his very last breath,” said Franky.
The Congress Candidate, Vijay Bhike who came third in Mapusa with barely 3,013 votes in 2017 extended his condolence to the family of the Mapusa MLA. “He was loyal to the party in good as well as bad times. His death has come as a shock to Goa. In spite of being sick his party did wrong by removing his from his portfolio and torturing him. All this further worsened his health. The entire government is sick. If the Chief Minister can operate from home than why was Francis not allowed to do so. This decision came as a blow to him and he felt hurt as he was very loyal to the party” said Bhike.
