Churchill has fallen – By Nisser Dias

Churchill Alemao

72 years old Churchill Alemao has fallen once again in an electoral defeat, will he able to get up from the knock-out punch delivered by Venzy Viegas a novice in politics given his age. Or is it that Varca strong man’s political embers will extinguish in the next five years. Or will he contest the Parliamentary election two years from now to still be in business? Churchill knew his defeat was imminent and had appealed to Benaulim constituents twice to give him a last chance, but the voters had enough of his deceitful ways and lies. In 2019 he had promised the constituents never to join or support the BJP, but when elected he did just the opposite. To console himself he started sermonizing that his ‘issue-based support’ to BJP was to bring in development in Benaulim. But his constituents knew very well that he was put on a short leash by the saffron party otherwise the wheels of prosecution in corruption cases would start rolling over him. So basically, Churchill would do the master’s calling whenever called for and sing praises of the BJP and its chief minister Pramod Sawant. People were not fooled by it and finally avenged their hurt by voting him out. It was indeed a befitting reply When it comes to development, ex MLA of Benaulim have not brought in any developments, in fact he has allowed destruction of the constituency. Let me tell you how. The Rs. 25 crore development he tom-toms about was brought in by former MLA Caitu Silva and foundation stone was laid by former CM late Manohar Parrikar. Under Sawant this project was implemented and Churchill oversaw that a new foundation was laid with his name and demolished the original. This beautification project has displaced rain water from the catchment areas and inundated large tracts of fields that were being cultivated by the owners. Interestingly in five years he could even oversee its completion as Orlim’s 700 metres bundh is still being redone after it collapsed with the fury of monsoons. He brought in destruction by allowing the government to build by-pass through low-lying areas of Seraulim and Benauim when the villagers were demanding road on stilts. Both the above projects which Churchill claims to be development with cause lots of hardship to people as not only fields are inundated with rain water, but water has also started entering houses in these villages. He losing Benaulim constituency might not be as much disappointment to him as his failure to get his daughter Valanka Alemao elected from Navelim constituency. He saw her as his successor. She contested two elections and have lost both. Losing election this time in Navelim constituency must be a bigger jolt for Churchill because he along with Trinamool Congress party Rajya Sabha member Luizinho Faleiro could not bring her the victory. Luizinho was the MLA till recently and had his vote share. Churchill also represented Navelim and holds sway in some pockets of the constituency. But their combined strength could not manage her first electoral success which is an indication that Churchill’s popularity is at an abysmal low.