Losing to any of the candidates will be humilating for Churchill Alemao -- By Nisser Dias

Assembly election 2017 is very crucial for two seasoned politicians Churchill Alemao and Luzinho Faleiro. While the latter has been out of active politics for the last decade after tasting defeat at the hands of bête noire Churchill Alemao. Alemao himself is not on any better footing maybe worse than his mentor.

In case of GPCC president, he faced defeat against Churchill in Navelim assembly seat in 2006 and this time round he is pitted against his one-time close confidante and family friend Avertano. In 2012 the former goal keeper of the Churchill Brothers football team defeated his former employer at the electoral battle. Will the Fisheries minister now defeat another stalwart politicians or will Luizinho overcome friend turned political tormentor?

For Churchill losing Benaulim constituency this time would not only be a dilemma but end of his political career. In case sitting MLA Caetano Silva wins it will be a huge victory for Silva and a crushing defeat for Churchill not in terms of margin but morally.

It was NCP Benaulim candidate’s family who moved mountains to get Silva dis-qualified as an MLA on his nationality status but failed miserably. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) of the government of India, in an order passed on January 31, has pronounced Benaulim MLA Caetano R Silva to be a citizen of India and not a Portugal national as contested by the Alemao’s. Caitu’s victory will mean that the Benaulim constituents have stood by him and taught Churchill a befitting lesson.

In the case of Congress candidate Edwin Baretto winning. Firstly it would mean that yet another new face has defeated the Varca strong man on his home turf. Edwin is not a novice at politics as he is an elected panch of Cavelossim panchayat office, earlier been a sarpanch, is the Benaulim Congress block president for almost two decades but fairly new at politics at state level.

Secondly, his candidature was announced at the eleventh hour which left him with  just 20 days to campaign, file his nomination papers, galvanize his booth  committees.

Churchill has even rubbed Edwin the wrong way. After losing Assembly election in 2012 the former tried very hard to re-constitute the Benaulim block by replacing the latter with his own man where Churchill almost succeeded but Congress denied him the ticket to contest Parliamentary election in 2014, he quit the party and Edwin back in the saddle.   

Though, the general perception is that Edwin is Luizinho’s man, the Benaulim electorate especially the Congress supporters feel that a situation of alliance with NCP was created to delay the ticket to Baretto so that he would have much time to canvass, which would benefit Churchill. The talk doing the rounds in the neighbouring assembly constituencies of Benaulim and Navelim that the ‘kumpars’ had struck a quid pro quo. What is to be seen is how the alleged deal pans out for friends turned foes turned friends.

Yet another Churchill biggest fear is losing to Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate Royla Fernandes. Her foray into politics began in 2012 where upon elected as member of Benaulim panchayat was hoisted as sarpanch. She was ousted as she refused to support the BJP. Compared with Churchill’s years in politics, Royla is a novice so the fight between them is like the legendary David and Goliath.

But Churchill fear of losing to AAP candidate goes much deeper as in the year 1984 when late Dr. Wilfred D’souza, Luizinho Faleiro, advocate Radharao Gracias and others had formed Goa Congress. Agnelo Fernandes father of Royla was decided as the Benaulim candidate of the party, however overnight it is alleged that NCP candidate arm-twisted Dr. Willy through Luizinho and bagged the ticket for himself. If Royla Fernandes wins the Benaulim seat it would be like a sweet revenge for Agnelo getting his daughter elected against his long time political opponent and also doing what Churchill failed to do in 2012 of getting his daughter elected.