Churchill Alemao was never seriously in the race for the Congress ticket. You had demanded that the ticket be given either to sitting MP Francisco Sardinha or daughter Valanka. While both Sardinha and Valanka are still in the Congress, what made you to stage a revolt against the Congress?
The reason is simple: I was hundred per cent sure that Vijai Sardessai and Reginaldo Lourenco had struck a deal with Manohar Parikar to get the BJP candidate elected without much of a problem. There was match fixing to give the ticket to Reginaldo. The Congress party had done a similar thing in the Cortalim by-poll and certainly leaders were out to repeat somewhat similar strategy in South Goa by fielding a weak candidate to give a walk over for the BJP.
Your opponents have dubbed you as a spoilsport and a candidate out to split the secular vote to benefit the BJP. Comment.
Congress leaders have confused the people by saying I had taken Rs 50 crore from Parrikar to split the secular vote. I have now silenced these people by joining the Trinamool Congress. These people should wait to count my votes on May 16 to find out whether I am contesting the poll to split the votes or win the election. The Congress should remember that to win an election you require the support of Hindus, Catholics and Muslims and not just one community.
You are not new to South Goa Lok Sabha poll. You had won the seat on the UGDP and Congress tickets. How is the going this time around under the Trinamool Congress banner?
Though I am late in the campaign, I have managed to cover lot of ground and am now in a position to take the battle to its logical conclusion. People of Goa know that the next government at the centre will neither be formed by Modi nor by the Congress, but a third front. The Trinamool Congress will be a key player in the next government.
What is your agenda before the South Goa electorate this time around?
My first and foremost priority is to get the proposed airport at Mopa scrapped. The Centre had sanctioned Rs 500 crore for up-gradation of Dabolim when Save Goa Front took up the issue. But my main motto this time is to get Mopa scrapped altogether. Both the Congress and BJP have done nothing for the mining-affected people. They only gave them empty promises. I will bring Rs 2,000 crore financial package for the mining-affected people if the Third front comes to power.
Almost all the political parties have accused you of putting one lakh Goan youth in trouble by raking Caitu’s birth registration in Portugal.
This is baseless. Churchill has been responsible for helping thousands of Goans obtain Portuguese passports over the years. Portuguese passport has enabled people to make a decent living. But the law says that one cannot contest any election if you have registered your birth in Portugal. In what way am I responsible to put the people in trouble? If elected, I will work hard to get dual citizenship for Indians settled abroad.
Why do you think the people should vote for you when you had resigned from the Lok Sabha before the completion of your five-year term?
I had resigned from the Lok Sabha to save Dabolim airport. I had access to certain documents which showed that Dabolim will be closed down after Mopa becomes a reality. If people give me an opportunity to represent them in Parliament, I will get the Mopa airport scrapped.
