Within a day of Congress announcing its south Goa seat ticket to legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Congress is facing a rebellion, as former Congress Minister Churchill Alemao threatened to quit the party and contest Lok Sabha election from south Goa if his daughter Valanka, Goa Youth Congress president is not given the party ticket.
Ironically, Ms. Valanka Alemao had earlier publicly pledged to work for Lourenco.
"I give 24 hours to the party high command to reconsider its decision or I will enter the fray as an independent candidate by quitting the party", announced Mr. Alemao on Wednesday.
Mr. Alemao, who has left the Congress more than once in the past can be a spoil sport for the Congress in this Catholic dominated constituency.
Mr. Alemao wanted ticket for his daughter, but had no problem if sitting MP Francisco Sardinha is given the ticket.
"When I and Valanka had met Congress General Secretary and Goa Desk-In-Charge Digvijay Singh in Delhi recently, I had opined that Mr. Sardinha be given the ticket", claimed Mr. Alemao.
Sources in the Congress claimed that efforts were on to mollify the rebellious leader were on.
Ironically, Mr. Lourenco entered State Legislative Assembly via Mr. Alemao's party in 2007 when Mr. Alemao had formed Goan People's Front in 2007 Assembly elections by splitting from Congress ahead of that election. Post election he joined the Congress to become a Minister.
Mr. Lourenco, an outspoken second-time legislator from Curtorim constituency of south Goa and spokesperson of Congress legislature party, has been chosen as the party candidate from South Goa, denying ticket to sitting MP Mr. Sardinha whom the former had defeated in 2007 Assembly poll.
Former Chief Minister Ravi Naik is Congress candidate for north Goa seat.
