“The blackmailing tactics of the Alemao clan will not succeed anymore with the voters, since everyone knows that these leaders are puppets in the state BJP government’s hands and are now contesting only to divide the secular vote.
These leaders who were rejected in the last Assembly elections for family raj, have now resurfaced not for good of Goa, but only for their families.”
Adv John Monteiro
(Social worker/Independent candidate at 2012 Assembly election)
“Churchill Alemao, who was first elected against Eduardo Faleiro, and then against Ramakant Angle, resigned as MP to return to state politics and contested against Luzinho Faleiro in Navelim. Why does he now want to get back to parliamentary politics? People have already made up their mind that their choice for this election will be the voice which has fought for people’s causes against the anti-people policies of Parrikar Govt. This voice is Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco and we are sure he will be a much better MP than Sardinha or Churchill who were as MPs in the past.
Peter Ferrao
(Activist from Fatorda)
“RSS ideology cannot and will not work in secular Goa. After BJP declared Modi as their PM candidate, the issue of maintaining secular unity and protecting ourselves from communal and fascist forces is most important. Congress senior leaders like Churchill, Sardinha and Mauvin etc who have contributed to the party prospects in the past, should now understand the gravity of the situation and unite at this hour to elect Reginaldo and maintain secular unity to protect the secular fabric of Goa.
Joseph Vaz
(Sarpanch, Rachol)
“Any senior political party should not allow individuals like Churchill etc to hold a gun at its head and achieve one’s own political agenda. This is akin to sheer blackmail. Citizens do not appreciate such type
of politics by such individuals. I am sure such elements will not garner any support in elections.
Shridar Kamat
(Writer and Columnist)
“Churchill is a big leader, but he should honor the mandate of the people in the recent Assembly elections, that all four family members were not voted to power. He should rethink his decision to contest the MP election and work for the party. ‘If not Sardinha, Valanka should get the ticket, and if not Valanka, Churchill.’ What does Churchill mean by this? Why does he still want to continue the failed plan of family raj? Churchill is a good man, and besides Reginaldo was his aide at one point in time when he won on Churchill’s (Save Goa Front) party ticket. So he should help Reginaldo this time to win as an MP.
Devendra Kenkre
(District Committee, Congress)
“I do not expect Churchill to do something that will help the forces of evil. No doubt in the recent past, the Congress party seems to have lost its footing. But it now seems as if it wants to turn a new leaf by offering the ticket to Reginaldo, who is a young new face and has proved his mettle. Congress should be firm that it will not allow rebels to re enter the party. AAP in Goa is also not a choice, since its entire party leadership in Goa, and also its candidates in Goa are of an RSS background, that’s probably the reason Remo Fernandes has walked out on the party.”
Adv Radharao Gracias
UGDP Member
“Congress workers are very happy that the ticket has been awarded to Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, and have also decided to work collectively to make him victorious. Churchill was the person who introduced Reginaldo to state politics, by helping him win on his (Save Goa Front) party ticket, so Churchill should not desert Reginaldo at this time and help him to win.”
Anthony Miranda
(Ex-Cortalim Block President)
“Crores of rupees will be exchanged if Churchill contests, to split the secular votes. I have also heard that Parrikar has promised to withdraw all pending cases against Churchill for alleged scams in PWD. Today Churchill is discredited everywhere and all his ranting will go for a toss. Churchill does have nuisance value, which he will try to use against Reginaldo, who everyone has acclaimed as the right decision by the party. Reginaldo is an honest man with no baggage, who serves the people of Goa and exposes all Parrikar’s wrong doings. All secular forces should unite to help Reginaldo win by a resounding margin.”
Dr Francisco Colaco
(Cardiologist & writer)
“Churchill should show some sincerity to the party, the party which gave him and his family four tickets in the last Assembly elections. So also he and his brother were made ministers in the Congress cabinet.
When people are all united not to allow Modi and BJP to come to power, Churchill should re think his decision to contest the elections and should not behave like a BJP pawn. He should help Reginaldo who is a good candidate. We will do our best to help Reginaldo win in Vasco. So I urge Churchill not to split the secular votes of our state.”
Saifulla B Khan
(Congress Minorities Cell chairman)
