Churchill promises to work for Sardinha

BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: Confusion in the Congress party in Goa was sorted out after AICC general secretary incharge of Goa desk, B K Hariprasad and PWD Minister Churchill Alemao held a meeting at Nanutel in the city on Sunday (April 12) evening.

State Congress leaders converged at the hotel to finalise arrangement for the public meeting to be addressed by AICC president Sonia Gandhi at Fatorda on April 15.

Churchill, who met Hariprasad is said to have agreed to follow the dictates of the Central leadership and work for the victory of party candidate Francisco Sardinha in South Goa.

When contacted, Churchill said that his meeting with the Central party observer was to finalise arrangements for Sonia's meeting in Goa. He denied having discussed any other issue including the disqualification petition filed by Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco against him and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco who got elected on SGF ticket and later merged with the Congress after the 2007 assembly elections.

Addressing the media before meeting Churchill, Hariprasad claimed that the issue of the disqualification petition is not within his jurisdiction. As for Election Commission decision on SGF, Hariprasad stated that Churchill's views will be represented to the Election Commission.

Speaking on purpose of his visit to the state, Hariprasad stated that he had come to finalise arrangements for Sonia's forthcoming meeting in Goa and mobilise support to make the meeting successful.

On the failure of the party to honour the agreement to give his daughter Valanka the Lok Sabah ticket, the AICC general secretary clarified that there is party criteria in allotting tickets to candidates. Factors such as merit and winnability also are considered and guidelines are followed by the Congress Central Election Committee in deciding the allotment of tickets.

On the issue of Churchill blaming Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and the GPCC president, Subhash Shirodkar, the AICC general secretary said that the two are at the helm of affairs and enjoy support of party leaders. Although the two can suggest names for party ticket they are not authorised to decide candidates, he added.

Claiming that Churchill is his friend, Hariprasad said that his problem will be sorted out and that he would participate in campaign.