Thomas Gracias, Matanhy Saldanha could not match the money and muscle power of Congress candidates and basicly it was ignorancy of voters which led Matanhy Saldanha to elect only two times during numberous contests.Being a resident of Cortalim I kindly request you to make a point to elect Alina with a thumping majority.We need her not to carry Matanhy legacy but to keep away nafarious characters from Congress,UGDP and Mickey Mouse party away from the legislative Assembly.

Hi A. Pinto , OLAULIM:::::: I agree with you. One person cannot or does not make a "FAMILY". A family is usually a unit or group of people related by blood.

Alina Saldanha is purely inheriting, a vacant post,left by her husband.And by all accounts, and for good reasons,by the wish of the people .

She will have no other member of her family in the Legislature or as an MLA...or in Power..

This EditThought article is certainly interesting.

It has dealt with the vagaries or whimsical concepts of "FAMILY RAJ".

However if looked at with a pragmatic or logical mind, and with a precise description,it would appear different.

Family Raj could best be described as; keeping it within the family.

However let us look at this from 2 different angles.

In the recently concluded elections,many Ministers and MLA`s belonging to the Congress Party, and in power, were desperate to get their family membesr elected.For this, many MInisters and MLA`s too used all possible means,mostly corrupt to get their kin elected.

The main culprits involved in this method of Family Raj,that were abusing their power & prevelige were Churchill Alemao (daughter Valanka), Joaquim Alemao (Son Yuri), Ravi Naik (sons Roy & Ritesh) Babush Monseratte ( wife Jennifer),Pandurang Madkaikar (Brother).Francisco Sardinha would have been included,but for his son Shalom backing -out.

The Ranes & Dhavliakars were already elected previously and purely reinstated back again.NO new family members were being promoted.

The case of Alina Saldanha is a whole different ball game and completely different.She never sought power while Mathany Saldanha was alive, or in power previously,... and neither did Mathany wish her to be an MLA or sought a position for her in the Legislature.There was no issue of family raj in this instance.

Alina Saldanha has never laid claim to the vacant seat left by Mathany Saldanha, following his sudden demise.In truth and as a matter of fact, she has been invited by the BJP and well-wishers to contest Cortalim. I do not believe for one moment that Mathany Saldanha ever suggested to his wife Alina, that she must, at all costs, contest Cortalim,should he die or pass away. Had he done so , then we could construe this request as being an element of Family Raj.

There is one major difference.While the likes of the Alemaos ,Monserattes Naiks etc were forcing their kin upon the electorate,Alina Saldanha was purely & simply invited or kindly requested to contest.

Her decision to contest should not be viewed as "Family Raj".She is the only one of her family.And stricly speaking,one person does not make a family .A "family" cannot be described as one person (SOLO) only.A family or Family raj is best described as...."any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

excellent article the pros and cons suitably justified,but under the sympath wave wont hold water as seen from the comments, my only question to the electorate is why was Matany who was contesting elections for nearly 30 years just elected twice?

It also gives BJP an oppurtunity to have a woman in the Cabinet. once she wins.....last time round the BJP did not field a single woman candidate.

I don't agree many views of this article. I even don't this if BJP gives ticket to Alina it can be called as family raj. I think she wil be the right candidate for Cortalim as she knows what Mathani wanted to do for Goa and his constituency.

If u think that there is no difference between Congress and BJP if ticket is given to Alina let people decide if they agree with your view. Let wait and watch

Mr. Editor what family Raj you are talking about ? Electing another person after minister's death. In democracy there is no family Raj as the electorate are supreme. Moreover Mrs. Alina Saldanha is a people's candidate unlike the Alemaos ,Ranes and Dhavlikars. Family Raj tag may suit for the people who are accumulating wealth for their children and grand children or even great grand children. Mr. Matanhy Saldanha is and will always be a symbol of honesty who loved his motherland Goa from the bottom of his heart and worked towards its development and aspirations of Goans even to his last breath. It may sound strange to you and other Goans. There was never a minute he never thought of Goa. His every talk was Goa & Goans. And I am a witness to it.

Mrs. Alina Saldanha is also a candidate in her own right.She is well educated and always took part in the struggles on environment along with Mr. Matanhy Saldanha. She was even lathi charged at the time of Meta Strips. And being the wife of Matanhy she stood by him at the darkest hour. She is the only person who knew Mr. Saldanha in and out and that is the reason why we want Alina to contest the election and carry on with the unfinished work which Matanhy wanted to do.