TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Will the Alemao siblings cross swords against each other, with the NCP clearing Yuri Alemao’s candidature for South Goa and Valanka Alemao making a determined bid for the Congress ticket?
This question did the rounds in Congress circles on Sunday after news spread that the NCP had cleared Yuri’s candidature. But, the Alemao family on Sunday maintained that notwithstanding NCP’s decision to field Yuri in South Goa, the entire family will rally behind Valanka if the Congress nominates her for the seat, asserting that Yuri will not contest the poll if cousin Valanka is the Congress nominee. The family sounded confident that the Congress and the NCP will work out an understanding wherein both the parties will not cross swords against each other.
In fact, sources said that Valanka, who is holed up in Delhi along with Churchill since the last two days, said that she telephonically spoke to uncle Joaquim and cousin Yuri this evening, adding that both have assured her that Yuri will not contest the election if she turns out the Congress candidate.
“I don’t think such a situation will arise since I am confident that Yuri will not contest the poll if the Congress nominates me for the seat. Vested interests are only floating rumours. I am confident that the Congress and the NCP will enter into an understanding, wherein the NCP will not field candidates in Goa”, she said.
Joaquim Alemao told Herald from abroad that he has assured elder brother Churchilll that there is no question of Yuri contesting the election if Valanka is the Congress nominee. “We will unitedly work for Valanka if she is the Congress candidate”, he asserted.
Both Churchill and Valanka have been camping in Delhi since Saturday after AICC general secretary Digvijai Singh called the former PWD Minister. Churchill said he has spoken to some of the Congress leaders in support of daughter Valanka, saying that she is entitled for the ticket on merit. ‘The Congress has nominated a few Youth Congress presidents for the tickets. Valanka is one of the women who is entitled for the ticket on merit,” asserted Churchill.
Valanka told Herald from Delhi that she would not shy away from contesting the April 12 poll if the party nominate her for the seat. “I am a very optimistic person. I feel that I am entitled for the ticket purely on merit”, she said, but making it clear that she along with the Youth Congress members will work wholeheartedly for the Congress nominee in South Goa.
