The south Goa MP's detractors say that he is politically isolated and is not capable of bringing the Pratap Singh Rane government down.
PANAJI: Speculation emanating from New Delhi of a possible political coup in Panaji proved off target, though the man reportedly behind the rebellion, Churchill Alemao, south Goa’s MP, has many reasons to be contemplating one.
Speaking to DNA, Alemao said: "Everybody is trying their best (to topple chief minister Pratapsing Rane). But, only I am capable, if there is to be a rebellion." Alemao went on to say that he was not attending the AICC plenary session in Hyderabad scheduled to begin this weekend. When questioned if it was a boycott, Alemao replied, "I am very disappointed." And he added by way of explanation, "The party should be interested in me, not me in them."
Alemao also said he was "extremely disappointed" with the lack of support from Congress leaders in south Goa. Over 40 PCC leaders, AICC members and North Goa MP Shantaram L Naik are leaving for Hyderabad over the weekend leaving behind hardly anyone to join the protesting MP.
The MPLAD sting operation on him and his opposition to the proposed airport in Mopa near the Goa-Maharashtra border has left him isolated and has totally divided Goa’s politicians.
The North Goa MP Naik told DNA that Alemao "obviously does not decide who controls the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). There are meetings held at some venue or the other, but these are just pressure groups. In other words they may be anti or pro-Rane groups. But, it’s just that."
Naik was defending local media speculation of Congress MLAs huddling together in hotels this month. The GPCC VP and CLP spokesperson Jitendra Deshprabhu scoffed at the idea of a coup. "He is incapable of bringing down the Congress, all this is a fall out of Mopa."
Former Union law minister Ramakant Khalap also hinted discretely at Churchill’s isolation.
Others, on condition of anonymity, spoke of "Alemao caught in frames" -reference to the embarrassing sting operation- and of "a way to get out".
Khalap also told DNA that he met Rane on Thursday to impress on him the need for the proposed Mopa airport. The Congress in the state appears to think that Churchill Alemao is isolated. Alemao has been busy convincing voters in south Goa that in his 18-month tenure so far as MP, he has sanctioned projects valued at Rs 3.62 crore from MPLAD funds. And, when he is not defending his embarrassing sting expose, he has held meetings telling people how shutting down the Dabolim airport will destroy the south Goa economy that is entirely dependent on tourism.
But, at least for now, he is not behind any Congress rebellion. In his own words, "These are all rumours. Till now Churchill Alemao has not taken a stand."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}