Nothing can stop Valanka from contesting in Benaulim: Churchill

MARGAO, AUG 22
PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao has said that nothing can stop his daughter Valanka from contesting the next Assembly polls from Benaulim constituency.
“The NCP may say that the Benaulim seat belongs to them. I have no comments to make on their claim on Benaulim”, Alemao said, while reacting to NCP’s claim on the Benaulim seat.
He, however, sent a message loud and clear that his daughter Valanka will contest from Benaulim whether NCP gets the Benaulim seat or not. “I have made it quite clear that Valanka will contest the next Assembly polls from Benaulim on the Congress ticket. If she fails to get the Congress ticket, Valanka would still go ahead and contest from Benaulim on the people’s ticket”, he asserted.
NCP spokesmen Trajano D’Mello had on Saturday told newsmen that the party would not give up its claim on Benaulim, which is presently represented by former Minister, Mickky Pacheco.
The NCP stand, however, assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of overt and covert moves by its Benaulim Legislator to contest the next Assembly polls from the new constituency of Nuvem.
This means, the NCP leadership, will lay their claim on Benaulim, irrespective of the decision of the Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco to switch over to neighbouring Nuvem constituency, where the Congress will certainly lay their claim for its four-time Legislator and Power Minister, Alexio Sequeira.
Valanka has already opened her election office in Benaulim, while the Benaulim MLA Pacheco has vowed to field his candidate against her in hustings.
Pacheco has already disclosed his plans to play a major role in the next Assembly polls, but has declined to comment whether he would continue in the NCP or float a new regional party.