From Sanjay Borkar in Margao
for Daijiworld Media Network - Goa

Margao, Mar 28: The newly-formed “Save Goa Democratic Party’’ (SGDP) on Tuesday announced former sarpanch Benjamin Silva from Ambelim as their candidate for the forthcoming assembly election to contest from Velim Constituency, against water resources minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues.

The SGDP is backed by member of parliament Churchill Alemao, who hails from Congress Party and who would join this party soon. He announced that this party will hold a convention in Mhapusa in north Goa on April 14 and will show their power to Congress.

SGDP on Tuesday had convened the meeting in Velim constituency on the occasion of inducting Benjamin in their Party. At this meeting, president of SGDP Siddhnath Buyao alleged that Congress leaders were land-grabbers and they had already sold Goa very cheap.

He also lambasted industries minister Luizinho Faleiro, another Congress leader, saying that he was responsible for a huge scam in the name of Special Economic Zone in the state.

SEZ had become the land-dealing business for Faleiro, Buyao alleged in his speech.

Most of the speakers termed Goan MLAs as robbers and said that this was the right time to send them home.

After the formal meeting of SGDP, Alemao, who was sitting in the audience, was invited to speak. He reiterated that he would quit Congress at the right time and join SGDP.

"Congress party is a communal, for which reason I decided to leave this party. Politicians should serve people, but Congress leaders are serving themselves. This should not happen in politics," Alemao further said.

Advocate Mike Mehta, former minister Dr Wilfred Misquitta and Margao municipal council chairperson Ghanshyam Shirodkar also spoke at the meeting.

A large number of party workers attended the meeting.