Latest


Panaji: Alina Saldanha Wins Cortalim By-poll

  •   Mon, May 21 2012 10:34:27 PM

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
 
Panaji, May 21: In a major setback to the Congress party, its candidate Raymond D’Sa withdrew from the fray in the Cortalim by-poll, letting BJP contest Alina Saldanha win the poll.
 
Saldanha was pitted against two contestants – D’Sa (Congress) and Ramakant Borkar (Independent). On the last day of withdrawal both the candidates withdrew, leaving Saldanha get elected unopposed from this constituency.
 
The by-poll in Cortalim was necessitated after demise of BJP legislator Matanhy Saldanha, who died due to heart attack. The election was slated on June 4.
 
D’Sa’s withdrawal from the fray was a shocker for the Congress party, which was expecting to salvage its pride through Cortalim by poll. The party was reduced to single digit number in the state legislative assembly after March 3 Goa legislative assembly election.
 
“I am withdrawing because I am not getting necessary support from the Congress party,” D’Sa said minutes after applying for withdrawal from the fray.
 
Another legislator, Ramakant Borkar, who initially wanted to contest on United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) ticket, had expressed his wish to be independent candidate. He too applied for the withdrawal.
 
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, talking to reporters, said that Alina would be inducted in the state cabinet within a fortnight.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Vox Populi, Cortalim Constituency

    Tue, May 22 2012

    Alina Saldanha's victory is unprecedented and well deserved. With the withdrawal of opposition candidates yesterday, Alina was left with no opponent, thereby being elected unopposed. What however is strange is that those who made loud noises in the run-up to the by-elections suddenly fell silent like nine pins by the wayside.

    Mopa, Dabolim airport or medium of instructions - core issues which were projected to make or break the success of a candidate at the by-poll were suddenly ped like a hot potato. Those projected as upholders of Goan issues fell mum and dumb. Churchill Alemao who was seen as a potential Congress candidate (what with Congress bigwigs rushing to his residence at Varca), roaring vehement and even threatening to quit the party if he was denied a ticket, was muted as if with a muzzle. There were noises from Mickky Pacheco, what with names of Viola making the round as GVP candidate.

    The greatest paradox however comes from United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) leaders. They are on record stating that Alina should come clean on her stand on Mopa and medium of instructions, even going to the extend to claim that Matanhy was against Mopa. However, the UGDP failed to foist its candidate despite no clear statement coming on these issues from Alina. What is worse, the UGDP fell silent immediately after Alina filed her nomination papers. Why was the defeaning silence? The UGDP not only failed to field its candidate, but its UGDP-supported Independent candidate Ramakant Borkar withdrew from the fray.

    The withdrawal of Raymond D’Sa of Congress however reflects a serious malaise affecting the Congress. It continues to be a divided house and needs immediate intervention, if the party expects to survive as a united political entity, in spite of personal ambitions. The withdrawal of the official party nominee reflects the unending squabbles within, the corruption and the Family Raj Culture.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Panaji: Alina Saldanha Wins Cortalim By-poll



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like