BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: The much-touted public meeting at Lohia Maidan here called by PWD Minister, ostensibly to ‘expose’ two Congress leaders who sabotaged the chances of his lawyer-daughter, Valanka, of getting the party ticket for the South Goa seat, lacked the expected fire-works.
The meeting, held on Tuesday (March 31) however drew the crowds as all Churchill Alemao shows do.
What however created a flutter at the meeting was the presence of two persons, one N K Sharma and another Vinay Bopana, who were portrayed as ‘Congress observers’ and an impression was sought to be created that the South Goa ticket to sitting MP Francisco Sardinha was still not finalised.
Sharma, who addressed the meeting, claimed that he would convey the sentiments of pro-Valanka supporters to the Congress leaders in Delhi.
But when approached by the media later, Sharma admitted that he was on a ‘personal visit’ to Goa but refused to comment on whether he had any authority to make statements that the ticket for South Goa could be changed and is under review.
The meeting, organised under the ‘Congress-I Workers Meeting’ banner, meanwhile, attracted a sizeable crowd mostly ladies belonging to the OBC community, some ferried to the venue in pick-ups and curious spectators eager to know Churchill’s stance after failing to get the ticket for Valanka.
On this score, however, it turned out to be a total ‘anti-climax’. Churchill merely said, he is with the Congress and exhorted his supporters to vote for the Congress.
Churchill devoted much of his speech at the meet to explain the circumstances of his own exit and re-entrie from and to the Congress party. He quipped that “the people safeguarded me” though detractors in the party had sought to end his political career.
He also issued a veiled warning that he could “topple the state government” but would not do so since he had the support of central party leaders such as AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Ambika Soni.
He also justified his bid to gain a nomination for Valanka by quoting AICC general secretary, Rahul Gandhi’s view in favour of allotting tickets to youth. Valanka was a ‘good fighter’ and a capable candidate for the seat, he added.
Churchill also displayed a sheet of paper to the crowd, which he claimed was the ‘agreement’ in which the Lok Sabha ticket was assured for Valanka. The pact was reached at the time of Save Goa Front’s merger into the Congress.
Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, although refraining from taking names, took a dig at South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, who has been re-nominated, by mentioning his success in getting the bill on dhirios passed in the Goa legislative assembly. He nevertheless ended his speech, assuring to work for the Congress.
