MARGAO, JUNE 26
Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao’s daughter Valanka has asserted that she would contest the next assembly polls from Benaulim irrespective whether the Congress gives her the party ticket or not.
She further said that issues such as whether the Congress party would give tickets to three members of a single family will be tackled at a later stage.
Briefing newsmen, Valanka said “I am a youth Congress member and I want to contest on the Congress ticket. I will go ahead and contest the poll whether the Congress gives the ticket or not. But, I have full faith that the Congress would field me in Benaulim. I have met the Congress president,
who has plans for women empowerment. When a young woman tires to get into politics, they should support her. And, I am sure they will support me”.
Replying to a question, Valanka said it is the people of Benaulim, who have asked her to be there in the constituency for them. “They are looking at me to solve their problems. I have to be with them in this hour”, she added.
Valanka clarified that her decision to join politics is not overnight. “Let me make it clear that I have been in active politics since 2007. I was a contender for the Lok Sabha ticket, but somehow the ticket thing did not happen the last minute. Since my dad is representing Navelim constituency, I have also been doing lot of social work. Since 2004, I have been campaigning for my dad. I know the nook and corner of Goa”, she said, adding that she has not been pushed into politics by anyone.
When asked whey she wants to contest the polls when she is already into social work, Valanka replied “Being a member of the legislative assembly (MLA) or a Member of Parliament (MP), it gives a bigger platform to serve the people”.
When it was pointed out how she can get the Congress ticket when her dad Churchill and uncle Joaquim are MLAs representing the Congress party,
Valanka quipped “All these issues will be tackled at a later stage”.
Valanka said she has full faith that the Congress would field her in Benaulim, even as she asserted that she would contest the polls from Benaulim if the party denies the ticket to her.
