Cortalim Congress workers unnerved
Team Herald
VASCO: Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate’s that Cortalim candidate Ramakant Borkar will have a ‘friendly fight’ with Congress candidate Mariano Gilbert Rodrigues in Cortalim assembly seat has unnerved his supporters.
Borkar is fielded by United Goans Party (UGP), which Babush joined on Friday after resigning as Congress MLA. He will be contesting from Panjim as UGP candidate.
Cortalim Block Congress President Deven Kenkre claimed that they are not in a mood for a friendly fight. “I don’t think that there is scope for any friendly fight between UGP and Congress in Cortalim. If that is the case, then, I feel that such fight should also take place in other constituencies where Congress and UGP are contesting against each other; and why only with UGP, such fight should be with BJP too,” Kenkre quipped.
“Such talks on friendly fights are disturbing as the same creates confusion among the voters. We are firm that there will be proper fight and not friendly fight in Cortalim,” he added.
On his part, Mariano Rodriguese said, “It is not a football game. Election is a serious business and we have no doubt on my victory in Cortalim, so why waste time on friendly fight.”
Even the Borkar camp is doubtful that friendly fight would be possible under current political situation. Careful not to contradict Bubush, Deepak Gaonkar, a strong supporter of Borkar, said that the supporters would put in all their energy to win the elections. “We will keep our friendship with Congress and will go ahead with elections. People are aware who can deliver and will vote for Borkar,” he said.
When contacted, Borkar said, “There is no need of fighting. Only weak candidates tend to fight. I am not weak, so why to fight. Also, during campaigning we won’t stop speaking against each other. If I have not worked, then, they will talk against me.”
; and if they have not done anything, then, I will speak against them, but there will not be any fight. For me I will reach out to the people highlighting my work and my future plans for them and will surely win.”
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Velim angry with Goa Forward’s friendly dhirio?
NESHWIN ALMEIDA
neshwinalmeida@herald-goa.com
TOLLECANTO: Velim is always about the action and drama. In 2012, Velim saw the defeat of Filipe Neri Rodrigues after many years of drama of him being thrown out of the Assembly by the BJP and being disqualified, the Church attack and then the defeat of Neri. But now Neri is back in the news and so also is ZP Anthony Babush Rodrigues besides the MLA Benjamin Silva.
Till last week, Benjamin Silva rejected the BJP offer of ticket. Despite being a part of the Parsekar government and Khadi board chief, Benjamin decided to ride solo this poll and be an Independent candidate.
After being in the wilderness for five years since his defeat in 2012, Neri is determined to have his revenge. Now he has been appointed as Congress vice-president.
In the script the strong contender was the sitting Velim ZP member and former supporter of Neri, none other than Anthony Rodrigues fondly known as Babush of Jolly Bus Travels who never says No for a member of Assolna, Velim and Cuncolim for a bus ticket, even for free to help the village boys obtain sea farer certifications and jobs.
But all seemed jeopardized after the Vijai Sardessai-led Goa Forward Party under who’s banner Babush wants to contest. GFP declared alliance with the Congress and has decided not to field a candidate in Navelim to benefit Congress President Luizinho Faleiro.
“We may have withdrawn from Navelim, but will not compromise Navelim. In my demands, it’s clear that we will contest Fatorda, Velim, Saligao and Siolim and the alliance with Congress means contesting these seats and no changes on that,” Vijai asserted.
Vijai himself speaking on Babush birthday tonight stated that Judas who committed suicide after betraying Jesus, he won’t ditch Babush for an alliance and commit political suicide. Vjai asserted that no matter what, he’s fight will be for Babush.
Nevertheless, Vijai agrees that there will be a friendly fight between him and the Congress in these constituencies and downplayed the fact that all this will jeopardize Babush’s aims of winning an Assembly seat.
Speaking on his birthday at Velim, Vijai wished Babush all the best for wining Velim.
“My entire preparation for elections was an anti-Neri campaign while I don’t consider Benjamin as a contender, so these alliance talks don’t perturb me at all. I will focus on building my relations with the people under my symbol of the coconut. These talks of alliance don’t hold me back and I will stand tall in this election,” asserted babush who reminded us of Vijai’s promise of not being Judas and stabbing Babush in the back.
For Babush this was the best birthday gift of Vijai standing up for him while his supporters are not very happy.
Sean Fernandes from Assolna stated that it’s unfair that the Congress president and Goa Forward mentor have tied hands of having no battle in Navelim and Fatorda but are doing nothing to sort it for Babush in Velim and the vote split will only benefit Benjamin or Neri.
Meanwhile Vijai and babush assured that nothing will change in the alliance talk and that Goa Forward won’t compromise Velim for Neri and wont give a bye for Neri but the focus is only to win this election for Friday’s birthday boy babush.
Meanwhile Neri asserted that he doesnt feel scared or doesnt focus on the rivals but the official ticket from the Congress is an indication that he’s the sole candidate of the so called grand alliance and nothing else matters.
