The following article reproduced from goanet.
Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:44:52 +0300From: armstrong augusto vaz.
To: goanet.
Subject: [Goanet] Alemaos humbled: By Rajan Narayan.
The Alemaos were rebuffed by Sonia Gandhi who not only refused to to review Valanka?s disqualification, but held out the threat that they would lose the lucrative PWD and urban development portfolios. IT ALL started with the Rajya Sabha election. With Shantaram Naik completing his term of six years in the Rajya Sabha, the seat had fallen vacant. I understand that the president of the Congress, Sonia Gandhi, was very keen on nominating Luizinho Faleiro, general secretary of the AICC in charge of the North East, as the Congress candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections. Apparently, Sonia Gandhi has been very happy with Luizinho Faleiro?s performance in keeping Congress governments intact in the North East and his efforts at destabilising the CPM government in Manipur. The incumbent Minister for the North East has been very ill for some time now and Sonia Gandhi apparently had also decided to induct Luizinho Faleiro into the cabinet as the Minister in charge of the North East. The only question mark was whether it would be possible to get Luizinho Faleiro elected to the Rajya Sabha from Goa. HIGH COMMAND.
THE moment the Congress High Command included Luizinho Faleiro?s name in the list of probable candidates for the Rajya Sabha seat, I understand that Churchill Alemao and company rushed to Delhi andbthreatened to vote against Luizinho Faleiro. Alemao?s apprehension was that if his bitter enemy Luizinho Faleiro was inducted into the cabinet, he would have more power and may undermine his position inthe Navelim constituency. Digamber Kamat apparently had his ownreservations about Luizinho Faleiro being nominated to the RajyaSabha. Luizinho had made a lot of enemies when he was the chief minister in Goa and it seemed increasingly difficult to get Luizinho elected in the face of the BJP deciding to field a candidate and openly inviting dissident Congress MLAs and its alliance partners to defeat the Congress candidate. So, at the last moment, the CongressHigh Command developed cold feet and decided to re-nominate Shantaram Naik as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections.
COLD FEET In the back drop, another drama was being played out. Out of the blue,Valanka Alemao, who is a recent entrant into the Youth Congress as against her rival Pratima Coutinho, the wife of former president of the Margao Municipal Council Savio Coutinho, decided to throw her hat into the ring for the post of the president of the Youth Congress. Not because Valanka had any great interest in either the youth of Goa or the Youth Congress, but because, traditionally, the Youth Congress president has at least been able to stake a claim for an Assemblyticket. The chances of Youth Congress presidents and office bearers being nominated for Congress tickets not only for Legislative Assemblyelections, but even for Parliamentary elections has brightened after Rahul Gandhi took over the reins of the Youth Congress. In fact, in recent elections to state assemblies, several Youth Congress leaders have been given tickets to contest Assembly elections and some of them have even won Assembly elections and been inducted into the cabinets. Unlike in the past, Rahul Gandhi had decided that office bearers of the Youth Congress would be elected and not nominated. To ensure that there would be no favoritism and that there would be no rigging ofelections, Rahul Gandhi had tied up with an NGO called Foundation for Advanced Mangement of Elections (FAME) started by former Chief Election Commissioner James Lyngdoh, who were entrusted with the responsibility of deciding whether the aspiring candidates had followed the correct procedure.
One of the conditions laid down in the hand book or code of conduct given to all prospective candidates who aspire to the position of office bearers in the Youth Congress was that they would not canvass with the party officials or the chief minister and ministers or seek endorsement from Congress politicians holding positions of power in the state. So much so, when Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, along with other Congress leaders, endorsed and recommended the candidature of Valanka to the post of Youth Congress president, the authorities entrusted with conducting the poll held her guilty of malpractice. Her case was referred to the NGO headed by Lyngdoh. She was issued a show cause notice and asked why she should not be disqualified from contesting the Youth Congress elections. The Youth Congress elections were scheduled for the same day as thatof the Rajya Sabha elections to nominate a member to the Rajya Sabhafrom Goa. The Youth Congress High Command, essentially meaning Rahul Gandhi, announced postponement of the elections. DIPLOMATIC MOVET his was a diplomatic move to ensure that the Alemao brothers would behave themselves and that there would be no obstacle in getting the Congress candidate Shantaram Naik elected to the Rajya Sabha. In the event, Shantaram Naik won the Rajya Sabha elections by a margin of 24 votes to the 14 polled by his rival BJP candidate Damu Naik. MickkyPacheco did not turn up to vote. Dayanand Narvekar, no doubt to showhis displeasure over being dropped from the Digamber Kamat government, deliberately filled the nomination form incorrectly so that his vote would be deemed invalid.
The day after the Rajya Sabha elections, the Congress High Command ?perhaps instigated by Luizinho Faleiro, who is reported to have become close to Rahul Gandhi ? struck. The Youth Congress disqualified Valanka from contesting the elections on grounds that she had resorted to canvassing, which was against the rules. She was also penalised and it was made clear that she could not contest any elections, at least on the Congress ticket, for one year. Which automatically rules out the Congress High Command giving her the Congress ticket to contest the Benaulim seat because elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly, even in the normal course will have to be held before June 2012, when the term of the present Assembly expires.
What agitated Churchill Alemao was not just the disqualification of Valanka, but the penalty that she could not contest any election onthe Congress ticket for one year. Joaquim Alemao, who normally steers his own course and is self centred to the core, decided to join Churchill in a display of indignation because he was concerned about the Congress ticket he was seeking for his son Yuri. In an emotional fit of anger, both the Alemaos submitted their resignations not only from the Digamber Kamat cabinet, but also as primary members of the Congress party, presuming that, as in the past, the act of blackmail would succeed and that the Youth Congress would reconsider the disqualification. RAHUL?S RULING BUT Rahul Gandhi made it clear that there was no question of reconsidering the verdict of the NGO which had ruled that Valanka was guilty of violating the code of conduct laid down for the Youth Congress elections. The Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, disgusted with attempts of blackmail by various state level Congress leaders, apparently advised Digamber Kamat to accept Churchill and JoaquimAlemao?s resignation letters. But it did not suit Digamber Kamat to antagonise the Alemaos and lose their support in the run up to theAssembly elections in Goa.
A lot has changed on the ground in terms of electoral equations and arithmetic since the agitation for extending grants to English medium schools began. Though Digamber Kamat finally conceded the demand, it is Churchill Alemao who has claimed or is given the credit for pressurising the Digamber Kamat government to extend grants to English medium primary schools at the behest of theDiocesan Soceity of Education. It was the Diocesan Society of Education which was among the first to switch to Konkani in Devnagiri as the medium of instruction at the primary level in 1981 when then education minister Shashikala Kakodkar decided to limit grants only to vernacular medium schools. With enrollment in the Diocesan schools dropping drastically, with more and more parents preferring to send their children to English medium schools, the Society had reversed its stand and had primarily instigated the agitation to extend grants also to English medium primary schools. Churchill was the first to jump on the bandwagon though, at the time Shashikala had taken the decision to withdraw grants to English medium Diocesan schools, he did not protest. On the contrary, if I recall correctly, Churchill Alemao was entirely in favour of grants being denied to English medium primary schools. With Churchill having emerged as the champion of the Diocesan Society of Eduation, which has a great deal of influence with the minority Christian community, Digamber Kamat was keen not to lose his support of the Alemaos, particularly Churchill Alemao who now controls the Catholic vote bank in Margao, his constituency. It is with the view to securing his own kodel and his own Assembly seat that Digamber Kamat rushed to Delhi to plead with the Congress High Command to review the disqualification of Valanka from contesting the Youth Congress elections. With Rahul Gandhi standing firm on the suspension, Digamber Kamat tried to persuade the Congress High Commandto appease the Alemao brothers by assuring them tickets for Valanka and Yuri in the forthcoming Assembly elections. Forget about getting an appointment with Sonia Gandhi, even Ahmed Patel, Sonia?s political advisor, refused to meet Digamber Kamat. This is obvious from the Chief Minister?s statement on his return to Goa that he had telephonically appraised Ahmed Patel of the situation.
BUTTER PILL What of the Alemao brothers? They were summoned to Delhi by theCongress High Command Observer Jagmeet Singh Brar, who is reputed to be a close confidant of Luizinho Faleiro when they were attending a function in Margao on Sunday. They were asked to reach the national capital Delhi on the same night. Delhi sources told Goan Observer that the Alemao brothers were given an ultimatum by the Congress HighCommand. Ahmed Patel apparently made it clear to them that there is no question of reviewing the disqualification. They were also told that they were free to resign from the cabinet and the primary membership of the Congress party if they so desired. It was hinted that if Churchill Alemao resigned from the cabinet and the primary membership of the Congress party, Luizinho Faleiro may be inducted into the cabinet as PWD Minister. Anyone can be made a minister provided he is elected to the Legislative Assembly within six months of his appointment. With the Congress deciding to dissolve the Legislative Assembly in November, Luizinho Faleiro would have been able to continue as PWD Minister without even seeking election to theLegislative Assembly.
I also understand that in the light of the fact that the Congress High Command was not willing to relent, Joaquim Alemao had second thoughts and agreed that he would not press his resignation from the cabinet. Which left Churchill Alemao isolated. NO PROMISES The Alemaos have returned from Delhi without succeeding in their mission to persuade the Congress High Command to review the decision of the Youth Congress to disqualify Valanka from contesting the Youth Congress elections. The promise to give due weightage to Valanka in Benaulim is a figment of Churchill Alemao?s imagination. In any case, it does not mean anything as Valanka has been disqualified from contesting any elections for at least one year. Churchill has no choice but to accept the situation and put on a brave face. Churchill?s claim that the Congress high Command has recognised the role played by the Alemao brothers in strengthening the Congress has not been formally endorsed by even Jagmeet Singh Brar. Nor is there any commitment on the part of the Congress High Command to consider granting the party ticket to Valanka. CHURCHILL SPEAK EVEN Churchill admits that "Patel has described Valanka as intelligent who is working hard for the party in Benaulim. He wanted Valanka to take a top post in the Congress organisation, but Valanka told Patel that she was not hankering after the post." When Churchill was questioned by the media specifically on whether the party had assured a ticket for Valanka to contest from Benaulim, all Churchill had to say was that the Congress High Command had recognised the work put inboth by Valanka in Benaulim and Yuri in Sangem respectively. It is only a fond father?s delusion that Valanka will get the Congress ticket from Benaulim. It is based on the belief that Valanka would be third time lucky. To quote Churchill: "Twice Valanka was denied the party ticket. This time, the High Command will definitely recognise her work. Brar,however, has limited himself to saying that the party would give due weightage to Valanka?s claims for a ticket to Benaulim. The only tangible benefit that Churchill and Joaquim seemed to have achieved from the resignation drama that they staged was the promise that they would not be displaced from the PWD and the urban development portfolios which they hold in the Digamber Kamat cabinet.
There hasbeen pressure from colleagues of the Alemaos in the cabinet and from the Congress High Command to relieve all non performing ministers and those against whom there are complaints of corruption from the cabinet. Churchill was apparently rapped on the knuckles and told that the Congress High Command did not take kindly to his frequent resignation threats and that it was seriously thinking of shuffling portfolios. DISQUALIFICATION Churchill has more to fear than just being deprived of the very lucrative Public Works Department portfolio.
The Congress party has also been keeping the sword of disqualification hanging over the heads of Churchill Alemao and Reginald Lourenco. With the Election Commission ruling that the Save Goa Front continues to exist as aregional party, the speaker Pratapsingh Raoji Rane has served notice on Churchill Alemao and Reginald Lourenco on their claim that the SGF has merged with the Congress and has ceased to exist. The procedures require that the organisational wing of a party also has to merge and it is not enough if only the legislative party merges with another party. By far the biggest loser in the resignation drama has been the Chief Minister. Digameber Kamat?s only motivation in rushing to Delhi in defence of Valanka was to ensure that Pratima Coutinho would not win the contest for the presidency of the Youth Congress. Pratima Coutinho, in fact, had the support of the Alemao brothers till Valanka decided to contest. Pratima, who has been a Youth Congress member forover a decade, also has the support of Vijay Sardesai, general secretary of the Congress in the state who aspires to get the Congress ticket for the Fatorda seat. In fact, the Valanka disqualification and the Churchill resignation drama has created a rift between Vijay Sardesai and the Alemaos.The Valanka disqualification from the resignation drama staged by the Alemaos has further lowered them in the eyes of the electorate.
Benaulikars are reportedly disgusted with the antics of the Alemao parivar. In the process of getting a ticket for Valanka for theBenaulim assembly seat, Churchill may only have succeeded in exposing himself to ridicule and even endangering his chances of being re-elected on the Congress ticket from Navelim. Given the stormy nature of the reception that the Alemao brothers received in Delhi, it is almost certain that they will be either expelled from the party or leave the Congress party and return to the SGF so that the Alemao parivar can secure tickets not only for themselves, but for Valanka and Yuri also. Digamber Kamat has also raised questions in the HighCommand about his ability to provide either stable or good governance.
July 29, 2011
VALANKA-ISATION OF GOAN POLITICS.
The last week drama enacted by Churchill Alemao against Congress Party because his daughter Valanka was disqualified from contesting election for the presidency of Goa Youth Congress totally exposed Alemaos selfishness and weakness. Valanka is a nice girl and also pretty looking with nice velvetty long hair but not as pretty as her other two married sisters who are in Kuwait. Valanka is not Benazir Bhutto who accompanied her premier father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to India when he came to sign a peace pact with Indira Ghandi at Simla immediately following the war for the liberation of Bangladesh. The way Churchill and the entire Alemao clan making noise of Valanka’s prowess as a Lawyer and as a Social worker it looks Valanka is the saviour of Goa who alone can save Goa from further disaster which is partly the making of her father. As per the events going on in Goa due to Valanka’s ouster, Churchill Alemao because of his political clout totally VALANKA-ISED Goa and Goan politics. Because of father’s greed for political supremacy poor daughter’s image is getting tarnished. At this young marriageable age she should have been above her father’s politics who is using her as a tool to further his political ambitions.
Valanka as a lawyer is not Jetmalani nor Nani Palkiwala. As a Lawyer she did not fight and won the difficult cases and yet her Law degree is projected by Churchill clan as if she is the Supreme Court Lawyer and only one of her calibre in Goa. Before getting her blossomed Churchill is fading her thereby making the poor young girl lose her confidence and subject her to public criticism. And as a social worker she did not perform something extra ordinary. And by the way, to be a social worker she has to be “above suspicion” since allegations are cast on her integrity. One person at the same time cannot be a social worker and a political worker also. A social worker is a social worker, he cannot be a political worker. For this reason Ghandiji once said "India does not need political workers for its development but India needs social worker". Churchill’s strength to shake Goan politics in his favour was shattered when the few powerful long timer and senior workers of Youth Congress made a mockery of Valanka by rejecting her candidacy. Valanka’s heavy defeat Churchill should take it as a wakeup call and stop taking Goans for granted further. Valanka’s humiliation is the strong defeat for Churchill and it is also a sign that people in Goa are ready to revolt against Churchill. Churchill’s arrogance and his “dadagiri” in Goan politics is coming to an end.
While Churchill is pushing his daughter Valanka as if she is an extra ordinary politician and saviour of Goa, his brother Joaquim Alemao is pushing his son Yuri to contest the next election. Yuri Alemao is not Yuri Gagarin the Russian Astronaut who was the first human being to go into outer space in 1960, to receive such an importance. Yuri Alemao is a Pilot which is a very lucrative profession but is politics more lucrative? It is certainly yes, not by fair means but by unfair means, that is, thru looting and robbing the people SHAMELESSLY. Are these two siblings of Alemao clan the only Goans to contest the elections in the constituencies allotted to them by the senior Alemaos? Is there nobody better in those constituencies to contest the election on Congress tickets? And will Congress such a mighty organisation bow its mighty head in front of tiny Alemaos? Time alone will answer this question.
Churchill and Joaquim Alemao both brothers by resigning from their posts showed that they are ready to do anything to get their personal ambitions fulfilled. Both these brothers for any of their decisions and actions are responsible for their constituents who voted them to power. Did they consult their voters and got their approval before submitting their resignations? Or do these both Alemao brothers think the Voters “BOSLET AMCHEA KONKEAR?” Their constituents voted them to power not to fight for their personal and family benefits. Alemaos should know this better. People voted them to work for the the cause of their constituencies and for Goa and NOT for the cause of their family members.
It is a big lesson for the voters from Navelim and Cuncollim to learn from their elected representatives who think that their voters are slaves. If they are not slaves then they will assert their rights to control the moves of their representatives. Churchill made his voters as “GHANTTA BOIL” and in fact the voters from Navelim who elected Churchill Alemao are really “Ghantta Boil” otherwise how they allowed Churchill to defect from his party to Congress after he got elected in the last election? Before the election Churchill depicted Congress as Enemy to defeat Luizinho Faleiro and in the bargain all the voters of Churchill became enemies of Congress and Luizinho. And ultimately what was the result? Churchill joined Congress for his selfish benefits and his voters remained enemies of Luiznho and Congress. In future the voters must hold the “XENNI” of Churchill in their hands because this man is unreliable and selfish. He expects every one including me to accept blindly his every act, good or bad.
I fail to understand how the voters in Navelim who should be proud of their great son and parliamentarian who fought for the cause of justice for the poor Goans in the Portuguese Parliament a century back are tolerating Churchill’s selfish politics!! Now the next election is coming. Before this election in Navelim, Cuncolim and other places the voters must get an undertaking and firm assurance from their candidates that they will not take any decision on their own without consulting them. This code of conduct should be applied and forced vigorously on Churchill because he is the main architect of political prostitution and corruption in Goa. He thinks once elected he can do anything. He got no principle. For his selfish ends he will do anything. To fulfil his political ambition at the time of the formation of PDF Government, he is on record to swear in Hindu tradition on Coconut in the Hindu Temple along with other Hindus against the Christian doctrine and now to fool the Christian voters he is displaying his photo kissing the Holy Bible. Bible kissing is not for show and not to get votes by cheating the voters. Bible is to make us upright and not to corrupt us. Bible is not only to kiss, to read and to listen but Bible is mainly to imbibe. And who can do this? Surely not the corrupt politicians who misuse the Bible to cheat the people. To misuse Bible is not only an ordinary sin but a big sacrilege warranting highest punishment from God. I have seen people misusing Bible have suffered tremendously in life, not only they but even their generations.
Bible is a great book, there is no other book greater than Bible and because it is so, it is kept even in the Moon; because it is so, its circulation and sale is the highest among all the books in this world. Bible is the Living word of God. Let these words not remain as logos in our lives or Bible will be like any other normal book. Let the living words inside the Bible change our lives and let it renew our mind according to Romans:12:2. Bible speaks about who is our God and more over it teaches us how to live according to His standard. Bible is our catalogue given by God the Father to live uncorrupt and peaceful life. Bible teaches us about servant hood and Not “Dadahood” to accept cheap honor and bribes from people. Bible teaches us to be pure in mind and heart and in action. Looting the people, extorting bribes from the people and using violent means against one’s opponent is against the teachings of Bible. Let Bible Kiss not be the Judas Kiss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwai.
Valanka as a lawyer is not Jetmalani nor Nani Palkiwala. As a Lawyer she did not fight and won the difficult cases and yet her Law degree is projected by Churchill clan as if she is the Supreme Court Lawyer and only one of her calibre in Goa. Before getting her blossomed Churchill is fading her thereby making the poor young girl lose her confidence and subject her to public criticism. And as a social worker she did not perform something extra ordinary. And by the way, to be a social worker she has to be “above suspicion” since allegations are cast on her integrity. One person at the same time cannot be a social worker and a political worker also. A social worker is a social worker, he cannot be a political worker. For this reason Ghandiji once said "India does not need political workers for its development but India needs social worker". Churchill’s strength to shake Goan politics in his favour was shattered when the few powerful long timer and senior workers of Youth Congress made a mockery of Valanka by rejecting her candidacy. Valanka’s heavy defeat Churchill should take it as a wakeup call and stop taking Goans for granted further. Valanka’s humiliation is the strong defeat for Churchill and it is also a sign that people in Goa are ready to revolt against Churchill. Churchill’s arrogance and his “dadagiri” in Goan politics is coming to an end.
While Churchill is pushing his daughter Valanka as if she is an extra ordinary politician and saviour of Goa, his brother Joaquim Alemao is pushing his son Yuri to contest the next election. Yuri Alemao is not Yuri Gagarin the Russian Astronaut who was the first human being to go into outer space in 1960, to receive such an importance. Yuri Alemao is a Pilot which is a very lucrative profession but is politics more lucrative? It is certainly yes, not by fair means but by unfair means, that is, thru looting and robbing the people SHAMELESSLY. Are these two siblings of Alemao clan the only Goans to contest the elections in the constituencies allotted to them by the senior Alemaos? Is there nobody better in those constituencies to contest the election on Congress tickets? And will Congress such a mighty organisation bow its mighty head in front of tiny Alemaos? Time alone will answer this question.
Churchill and Joaquim Alemao both brothers by resigning from their posts showed that they are ready to do anything to get their personal ambitions fulfilled. Both these brothers for any of their decisions and actions are responsible for their constituents who voted them to power. Did they consult their voters and got their approval before submitting their resignations? Or do these both Alemao brothers think the Voters “BOSLET AMCHEA KONKEAR?” Their constituents voted them to power not to fight for their personal and family benefits. Alemaos should know this better. People voted them to work for the the cause of their constituencies and for Goa and NOT for the cause of their family members.
It is a big lesson for the voters from Navelim and Cuncollim to learn from their elected representatives who think that their voters are slaves. If they are not slaves then they will assert their rights to control the moves of their representatives. Churchill made his voters as “GHANTTA BOIL” and in fact the voters from Navelim who elected Churchill Alemao are really “Ghantta Boil” otherwise how they allowed Churchill to defect from his party to Congress after he got elected in the last election? Before the election Churchill depicted Congress as Enemy to defeat Luizinho Faleiro and in the bargain all the voters of Churchill became enemies of Congress and Luizinho. And ultimately what was the result? Churchill joined Congress for his selfish benefits and his voters remained enemies of Luiznho and Congress. In future the voters must hold the “XENNI” of Churchill in their hands because this man is unreliable and selfish. He expects every one including me to accept blindly his every act, good or bad.
I fail to understand how the voters in Navelim who should be proud of their great son and parliamentarian who fought for the cause of justice for the poor Goans in the Portuguese Parliament a century back are tolerating Churchill’s selfish politics!! Now the next election is coming. Before this election in Navelim, Cuncolim and other places the voters must get an undertaking and firm assurance from their candidates that they will not take any decision on their own without consulting them. This code of conduct should be applied and forced vigorously on Churchill because he is the main architect of political prostitution and corruption in Goa. He thinks once elected he can do anything. He got no principle. For his selfish ends he will do anything. To fulfil his political ambition at the time of the formation of PDF Government, he is on record to swear in Hindu tradition on Coconut in the Hindu Temple along with other Hindus against the Christian doctrine and now to fool the Christian voters he is displaying his photo kissing the Holy Bible. Bible kissing is not for show and not to get votes by cheating the voters. Bible is to make us upright and not to corrupt us. Bible is not only to kiss, to read and to listen but Bible is mainly to imbibe. And who can do this? Surely not the corrupt politicians who misuse the Bible to cheat the people. To misuse Bible is not only an ordinary sin but a big sacrilege warranting highest punishment from God. I have seen people misusing Bible have suffered tremendously in life, not only they but even their generations.
Bible is a great book, there is no other book greater than Bible and because it is so, it is kept even in the Moon; because it is so, its circulation and sale is the highest among all the books in this world. Bible is the Living word of God. Let these words not remain as logos in our lives or Bible will be like any other normal book. Let the living words inside the Bible change our lives and let it renew our mind according to Romans:12:2. Bible speaks about who is our God and more over it teaches us how to live according to His standard. Bible is our catalogue given by God the Father to live uncorrupt and peaceful life. Bible teaches us about servant hood and Not “Dadahood” to accept cheap honor and bribes from people. Bible teaches us to be pure in mind and heart and in action. Looting the people, extorting bribes from the people and using violent means against one’s opponent is against the teachings of Bible. Let Bible Kiss not be the Judas Kiss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwai.
July 28, 2011
WILL THE BENAULIM CONSTTUENCY VOTERS ELECT A DISQUALFIED CANDIDATE VALANKA ALEMAO?
By Nisser Dias.
28th July 2011.
Will the voters of Benaulim constituency elect a disqualified candidate?
Last week the Congress party showed some spine by disqualifying Valanka Alemao for using her father PWD minister Churchill Alemao to garner support for her candidature for the post of president of Goa Youth Congress in a bid to clinch her victory. However she was caught in an act of deceit, trying to entice the voters allegedly through money power, muscle power which is the true influence of her father.
Churchill Alemao has become a veteran in using such methods to win elections. His claims that people vote him to power because they love him and his family, this in my opinion is simply lip service. Since his entry in politics his success or victory was largely due to intimidation or lure. And the same tactics were sought to be used for the very first election that Valanka Alemao was contesting. Though educated, it is surprising that she is not averse to such tactics. For Alemao's it is the victory at any cost that counts. Morals, ethics and values have never been their forte. Thank God, Valanka have been stopped in her tracks of vitiating the election process or otherwise she would have continued the trend for assembly election just like her father and uncle.
All along they have used, misused and abused Goans for their own sake allegedly to amass wealth. And Valanka seems to be showing similar traits. For more than a couple of years now, rumour mill have been screaming aloud that this young lady had taken over the business of being a collection agent of her father. Of course she has been confronted with this aspect by the media, but her reply was 'show me the proof.'
However, the amount of money that is being spent to promote Valanka's candidature for the coming assembly elections in Benaulim constituency is astronomical. Almost every week new banners are being put up with her picture in the constituency for some activity or the other and the common factor is that she is always the chief guest. Where does she get the funding from -- is shrouded in mystery. For PWD minister Churchill Alemao the victory of her daughter Valanka is of utmost importance and he is ready to stoop to any level to achieve that goal.
The government led by Chief minister Digambar Kamat have put up with the threats and tantrums of the PWD minister for far too long. Any decision of the government, wherein Churchill does not stand to benefit, he would blackmail the government with threats to resign or topple the government. In case of Valanka's disqualification, it was the decision of the election commission of Indian Youth Congress election committee, so where is the question of the holding the government responsible and the state to ransom. At the most an appeal could be filed with the appropriate authority. The Congress to prove its worth and its credibility should accept the resignation of both the Alemao brothers not only as ministers but also as primary members. At the same time serious consideration are overdue of their blackmailing tactics. In return Congress party should threaten the Alemao family with Income Tax raids and CBI investigation on the wealth amassed by both the brothers in the last four years. This will clearly indicate that by purchasing votes by doling out Rs. 500 to voters, that these two brothers have made politics their business and have allegedly accumulated wealth disproportionate to their known source of income.
Of course there will be accusation against the party for witch hunting and harassment, but if two persons can hold the state government to ransom what better treatment do they deserve? As it is we have witnessed like never before the gang-rape of Goa and its exchequer in the last five years by the Digambar led coalition government. When I say government it does not only mean its ministers though they have been the biggest beneficaries but also the MLAs. Almost on daily basis a new scam surfaces but the Congress party is doing the ostrich’s act so far.
However as per the latest developments in Delhi, it seems that Churchill and his brother Joaquim have got a reprieve, however the party refused to revoke the disqualification and Valanka had to swallow the humble pie. The Congress party has assured the brothers to seriously consider the candidature of younger Alemaos, however Congress is rarely known to keep its promise and who knows it better then Churchill himself. All in all it was a face saving exercise for the Alemaos. Has justice been done now? If at all Valanka contests the next assembly election be it on any party ticket, she will always remained tagged as disqualified candidate.
But one fact is clear, Churchill and Joaquim stand exposed as they had never tendered their resignation in writing to the chief minister. It was simply because they know that, 'a bird in hand is better than two in a bush'. They simply could not give up the lucrative portfolios thus Valanka was sacrificed on the altar of greed.
It has been reported in the media that Congress party bigwigs praised Valanka for the developmental work she is carrying out in the village of Benaulim. Is it not ironical that a layman has to carry out such works when we have a government in place. The fact of the matter is that she makes her presence felt wherever PWD asphalts roads or premix is being laid. Thus it is the exchequer’s money with which roads are being done. Just because Valanka makes an appearance does not mean she is doing-up roads from her personal kitty. She is only trying to pull wool over those who do not want to understand.
Of course this strategy is not originally hers. The architect of this plan is Calvert Gonsalves - a panch member of Colva and producer of music CD 'Dogui Bodmas'. His tactics are to organize an events and invite among others, those opposed to the candidate and take pictures. Then spread the word in the constituency that the opposing constituents have been convinced and won over and corroborate this with photographs. This approach he had used to get Mickky Pacheco elected. After he crossed swords with Benaulim MLA, Calvert has now jumped on Churchill’s bandwagon for obvious reasons and is now teaching Valanka the ropes of campaining and changing the tide in her favour. Infact Calvert has explained this strategy in his CD wherein he claims to have taught Mickky how to woo local leaders opposing him without spending money. The lyrics are 'Ganvchea leader-ank udar gheunk xikoile'.
After all said and done, no citizen can hold a state or country to ransom. It is unjustified and also not acceptable. Churchill Alemao has been doing it too often. Are we so cheap that we keep on reposing faith in him by casting our franchise in his favour? And today people of Benaulim should don on their thinking cap and decide whether they are going to vote for Valanka Alemao - a disqualified candidate to represent them in the Assembly.
Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)
(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT every Thursday).
For Goa News Log on to WWW.nizgoenkar.net.
28th July 2011.
Will the voters of Benaulim constituency elect a disqualified candidate?
Last week the Congress party showed some spine by disqualifying Valanka Alemao for using her father PWD minister Churchill Alemao to garner support for her candidature for the post of president of Goa Youth Congress in a bid to clinch her victory. However she was caught in an act of deceit, trying to entice the voters allegedly through money power, muscle power which is the true influence of her father.
Churchill Alemao has become a veteran in using such methods to win elections. His claims that people vote him to power because they love him and his family, this in my opinion is simply lip service. Since his entry in politics his success or victory was largely due to intimidation or lure. And the same tactics were sought to be used for the very first election that Valanka Alemao was contesting. Though educated, it is surprising that she is not averse to such tactics. For Alemao's it is the victory at any cost that counts. Morals, ethics and values have never been their forte. Thank God, Valanka have been stopped in her tracks of vitiating the election process or otherwise she would have continued the trend for assembly election just like her father and uncle.
All along they have used, misused and abused Goans for their own sake allegedly to amass wealth. And Valanka seems to be showing similar traits. For more than a couple of years now, rumour mill have been screaming aloud that this young lady had taken over the business of being a collection agent of her father. Of course she has been confronted with this aspect by the media, but her reply was 'show me the proof.'
However, the amount of money that is being spent to promote Valanka's candidature for the coming assembly elections in Benaulim constituency is astronomical. Almost every week new banners are being put up with her picture in the constituency for some activity or the other and the common factor is that she is always the chief guest. Where does she get the funding from -- is shrouded in mystery. For PWD minister Churchill Alemao the victory of her daughter Valanka is of utmost importance and he is ready to stoop to any level to achieve that goal.
The government led by Chief minister Digambar Kamat have put up with the threats and tantrums of the PWD minister for far too long. Any decision of the government, wherein Churchill does not stand to benefit, he would blackmail the government with threats to resign or topple the government. In case of Valanka's disqualification, it was the decision of the election commission of Indian Youth Congress election committee, so where is the question of the holding the government responsible and the state to ransom. At the most an appeal could be filed with the appropriate authority. The Congress to prove its worth and its credibility should accept the resignation of both the Alemao brothers not only as ministers but also as primary members. At the same time serious consideration are overdue of their blackmailing tactics. In return Congress party should threaten the Alemao family with Income Tax raids and CBI investigation on the wealth amassed by both the brothers in the last four years. This will clearly indicate that by purchasing votes by doling out Rs. 500 to voters, that these two brothers have made politics their business and have allegedly accumulated wealth disproportionate to their known source of income.
Of course there will be accusation against the party for witch hunting and harassment, but if two persons can hold the state government to ransom what better treatment do they deserve? As it is we have witnessed like never before the gang-rape of Goa and its exchequer in the last five years by the Digambar led coalition government. When I say government it does not only mean its ministers though they have been the biggest beneficaries but also the MLAs. Almost on daily basis a new scam surfaces but the Congress party is doing the ostrich’s act so far.
However as per the latest developments in Delhi, it seems that Churchill and his brother Joaquim have got a reprieve, however the party refused to revoke the disqualification and Valanka had to swallow the humble pie. The Congress party has assured the brothers to seriously consider the candidature of younger Alemaos, however Congress is rarely known to keep its promise and who knows it better then Churchill himself. All in all it was a face saving exercise for the Alemaos. Has justice been done now? If at all Valanka contests the next assembly election be it on any party ticket, she will always remained tagged as disqualified candidate.
But one fact is clear, Churchill and Joaquim stand exposed as they had never tendered their resignation in writing to the chief minister. It was simply because they know that, 'a bird in hand is better than two in a bush'. They simply could not give up the lucrative portfolios thus Valanka was sacrificed on the altar of greed.
It has been reported in the media that Congress party bigwigs praised Valanka for the developmental work she is carrying out in the village of Benaulim. Is it not ironical that a layman has to carry out such works when we have a government in place. The fact of the matter is that she makes her presence felt wherever PWD asphalts roads or premix is being laid. Thus it is the exchequer’s money with which roads are being done. Just because Valanka makes an appearance does not mean she is doing-up roads from her personal kitty. She is only trying to pull wool over those who do not want to understand.
Of course this strategy is not originally hers. The architect of this plan is Calvert Gonsalves - a panch member of Colva and producer of music CD 'Dogui Bodmas'. His tactics are to organize an events and invite among others, those opposed to the candidate and take pictures. Then spread the word in the constituency that the opposing constituents have been convinced and won over and corroborate this with photographs. This approach he had used to get Mickky Pacheco elected. After he crossed swords with Benaulim MLA, Calvert has now jumped on Churchill’s bandwagon for obvious reasons and is now teaching Valanka the ropes of campaining and changing the tide in her favour. Infact Calvert has explained this strategy in his CD wherein he claims to have taught Mickky how to woo local leaders opposing him without spending money. The lyrics are 'Ganvchea leader-ank udar gheunk xikoile'.
After all said and done, no citizen can hold a state or country to ransom. It is unjustified and also not acceptable. Churchill Alemao has been doing it too often. Are we so cheap that we keep on reposing faith in him by casting our franchise in his favour? And today people of Benaulim should don on their thinking cap and decide whether they are going to vote for Valanka Alemao - a disqualified candidate to represent them in the Assembly.
Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)
(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT every Thursday).
For Goa News Log on to WWW.nizgoenkar.net.
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