With highest votes, Benaulim AAP candidate at the receiving end. – By Nisser Dias

Aam Admi Party better known as AAP failed open their account in Goa at the assembly husting. Though they provided an option to the people, most of the electorate preferred to trust the known devil rather than an unknown angel.

Without a shadow of doubt, Goan edition of AAP did not have political mind-set with exception of very few like Dr. Oscar Rebello.

Most of the candidates too, one could call them political novices including the chief ministrial candidate Elvis Gomes. The only one who showed some political acumen is Benaulim candidate Royla Fernandes. That is because her father was a sarpanch for one term and panch  for three terms. she herself was a sarpanch for two years so she grew in a political environment.

Though Royla lost to Churchill Alemao by a margin of 5191, she managed to get more votes than the sitting MLA. While she polled 4182 votes, Caetano Silva could manage just 3995 votes. Hence in all the 39 seats that AAP contested only she managed to defeat the sitting MLA. None of the other candidates have achieved this feat.

Ironically she was singled out by AAP mentor for Benaulim, Margao, Velim and Cuncolim constituencies on local news channel. Serafino Cota is alleged to have said that they were requests to change the candidate for Benaulim constituency but they went ahead with Royla. That since she was a sarpanch, people have a notion that they are close to builders.

The question raised by the anchor and the reply by AAP office bearer is taken in a different connotation, basically in a negative sense as to why only she was targeted. And rightly so it seems that way.

The anchor may ask any question but there had to tact to answer them. Instead of saying that she received very less in Benaulim village, Cota could have pointed out that she was polled much more than the winning candidate in Carmona which happens to Serafino home town.

That apart, in my opinion individuals who ran the campaign in Benaulim had a mind block about Royla Fernandes and secondly were politically immature and could not make proper moves on the political chess board. Could Serafino pin-point his efforts in Carmona village which gave lead to the candidate.

Before making statements on media, Serafino should first inform what initiatives did he take to douse the fire of revolt in Benaulim regarding the selection process of AAP candidate. What measures were taken to pacify the revolting members. Secondly he should then dig deeper and find the truth of who encouraged AAP members to fill the candidature or selection forms who then revolted. What measures did party office bearer take when the revolting members started campaign against the party and then turned their sights on the candidate. What actions did the office bearers take when leaflets of character assassinations were being circulated.

If at all Royla has got much less votes in her own village, so has the Cuncolim candidate and Margao candidate has not managed to even reach 3-digit figures in any of booths in Margao.

Much hype was made about chief ministerial candidate Elvis Gomes, what happened to him, he could attract only 3000-odd votes and 4 in the list.

If at all Royla is being targeted because the difference of winning margin between her and Churchill Alemao is 5191, the difference of winning margin between Margao AAP candidate and Digambar Kamat is more than 10,000 votes.

Serafino Cota who was appointed as the mentor for these three constituencies was surprisingly silent on this issues. Why couldn’t he point out their lady candidate for Benaulim was the highest vote getter for AAP amongst all their candidates in the 2017 Assembly elections, Why couldn’t it pointed out she was the only AAP candidate to poll more votes than the sitting MLA.

Serious doubts about the working of AAP functionaries have been implanted in the minds of all those voters who cast their franchise in favour of Aam Admi Party. AAP has a selection criteria for its candidates, the party should now seriously think of setting criteria for spokes-persons. They should be able to articulate, get facts and figures right before airing their comments. By making a lose comment Serafino Cota has done a huge damage to the moral of the candidate and to the party as whole.

 

Biggest betrayal of all times by Vijay, Churchill betrays Benaulim constituents yet again. – By Nisser Dias

It is said that people get the government they elect and this has come true. Benaulim constituents that is voters of Colva, Seraulim, Benaulim, Varca, Orlim, Carmona and Cavelossim. All of them on 4^th February 2017 rejected Caetano Silva as he had supported the BJP for the last 5 years against the wishes of the people and again put their trust in Churchill and he did what he is best at betrayed his voters for 30 pieces of silver the very next day.

As recently as 30^th Jan 2017 at Churchill public rally, advocate Radharao Gracias was addressing the people on his platform and urging them to vote consciously for Alemao. He advised the thousands of voters who were ferried to the venue that when Churchill is voted all the decisions on their behalf will be that of their representative even if he decides to support the BJP. Churchill interrupted, grabbed the mike from Radharao’s hand and promised the people of Benaulim that even if they ask him to support the BJP he will not do so. But a day later after getting elected he extended his support to the party that the Benaulim people had rejected.

BJP's letter to Governor
giving names of parties
supporting them.

It is the betrayal of all the 9373 voters who had cast their franchise in his favour even though he was arrested for corruption in the Louis Berger case. The BJP had thrown this turn-coat behind the bars and today he is supporting the same party.

Hence, for the man called Churchill Alemao, politics is not about development or helping the people as he says. But it is to earn his bread and butter as that is his only source of income. And for his family he is the sole bread winner.

Of the 9373 voters who have accepted his ill-gotten money to vote for him will not feel the betrayal but those who genuine voters who gave a new lease of life to him are the people feeling completely let down.

Vijay's letter of support to
BJP

Of course there is lesson to be learnt from this. When there was choice or rather an option during this elections in Congress new face and AAP but those who still preferred Churchill should not have anything to complain.



Churchill's resolution to
carry out  his will.

At the same time this party hopper from Varca is humilitated by BJP. He was not even given a cabinet berth and will now be leaking his wounds. He must now be devising ways of breaking the BJP government. But in the political circles nobody trusts him any more.

The same goes to Fatorda constituents. Vijay Sardessai did not miss an opportunity to hit out at Manohar Parrikar or the BJP government has now partnered with them to further loot and plunder Goa. He has thrown ‘Goem, Goenkar and Goenkarponn’ to the winds and from now on will be laughing his way to the bank.

For those credible, respectable well-wishers of Fatorda constituency who went that extra mile to oversee Vijay’s victory is a great betrayal of their lives. To say it is a ‘slap in their face’ would be an understatement. The others who campaigned with him day and night, who toiled for his victory would be a jolt. Vijay’s ground workers who denounced their own to be with Vijay, one can image their plight.



All along the way, Vijay Sardessai has been calling AAP as the B-team of the BJP, then he called Luizinho Faleiro as the B-team of the BJP because an alliance was opposed but all the time, it was the Fatorda MLA who was soliciting BJP.



Then

If one reads Dr. Francisco Colaco’s on social media on 12^th March evening, one can make out that he is not angry but is writhing in pain and choking with emotion at the betrayal by those whom he used to call friends.

Fatorda MLA should introspect the hearts he has broken because of his greed power and the goodies that follow. Vijay was the same man who accused Parrikar and BJP for selling Goa, for turning coconut tree into grass and many other instances. Today Vijay has shown that he is no different than any other political prostitute and is even ready to sleep with the enemy for power and commissions.

Let this be a lesson for voters not only from Benaulim and Fatorda but all over never to trust politicians. If you do so it you who will suffer the heart burn. Today my dear friend, a great dotor Francisco Colaco, even greater human being is a victim. Let us vouch not to be taken for a ride.

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.