Sources reveal the former CM has been assured a Rajya Sabha ticket, but Luizinho wants two RS tickets – one for his media house friend
Goemakrponn desk
PANAJI: In politics, there are no permanent friends and foes, they say, and if you look at the current political developments in the State, it sounds absolutely true.
According to highly placed sources in the Congress, former Chief Minister and very senior Congress leader, who has held various positions in the All India Congress Committee – Mr Luizinho Faleiro is heading towards Trinamool Congress (TMC), headed by the flamboyant Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee.
Reliable sources informed that while the TMC wants Luizinho to contest the Navelim seat, they promised a Rajya Sabha seat, which would be vacated soon.
In teh bargain, it is learnt that Luizinho has also demanded another Rajya Sabha ticket to the Managing Director of a reputed media house in Goa.
“The TMC has not agreed for two tickets but have also not rejected the offer. The second RS seat is for exclusive media coverage for TMC’s election campaign in Goa,” sources revealed.
If Luizinho joins, he would not be the first senior to do; earlier in 2007 former chief minister Wilfred D’sa had contested on a TMC ticket from Saligao and lost to Dilip Parulekar (BJP).
In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, current Benaulim MLA and former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao unsuccessfully contested on TMC ticket from South Goa.
Trinamool leaders meet MLAs, leaders…
After successfully beating the Narendra Modi led BJP in the just-concluded elections in West Bengal, TMC Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is targetting to enter the Goa Assembly.
Currently, as per sources, the TMC team is in Goa. IN a bid to contest the 2022 elections, they are scouting for probable candidates.
Gao’s Waste Management Minister, Michael Lobo, said that the TMC leaders have approached him, but he is not interested.
Sources said the leaders have also approached former MLAs Agenlo Fernandes, Joseph Sequiera, sitting MLA Francis Silveira, etc.
The TMC team is also meeting several prominent journalists and media houses.
GPCC President speaks…
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar said that he has not come across anything like that.
“I know teh TMC is looking out for leaders and want to contest polls. I cannot say as no leader has come to me and say he is leaving Congress. Unless somebody tells me how would I know,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said, this is election time, and many people have political ambitions, and Congress cannot satisfy everyone.
“TMC, AAP, and one from Prashant Kishore are trying to lure aspiring leaders or seniors. I can’t say anything on that,” he said.