TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO:  With Congress nominee Raymond De Sa withdrawing from the fray, former PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao spit venom on Congress leaders for denying him the party ticket and instead backing Raymond’s candidature.
In fact, Churchill said that Congress leaders Oscar Fernandes, Francisco Sardinha, Luizinho Faleiro and Mauvin Godhino owe an explanation to the people of Goa on the sudden withdrawal  by the Congress candidate from the Cortalim by-poll.
“I don’t blame Raymond for his decision, because the ticket was forced on him by the party leaders because of their crab mentality. These leaders have destroyed the party and the people should ask them what has happened in Cortalim”, Churchill told newsmen.
 “First, it was Digambar Kamat who destroyed the party and now these bunch of leaders have led to the downfall of the party in Cortalim. Action should be initiated against the leaders who had given the ticket to Raymond”, he demanded.
Replying to a question, the former PWD Minister said he was willing to contest the Cortalim by-poll, but the Congress leaders sabotaged his chances of getting the ticket.
“When J S Brar and Sudhakar Reddy called on me and requested me not to leave the party, I was willing to contest the polls if given the ticket, but the party leaders decided otherwise. It is a shame that a Congress candidate has withdrawn from the fray”, he added.