Alina to be a minister within a fortnight: CM
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 21 May 2012 18:51 ISTChief minister Manohar Parrikar today confirmed that Cortalim MLA-elect Alina Saldanha would be inducted in the cabinet, but not immediately.
“I will induct her within a fortnight”, he told media persons today.
Alina was issued a certificate of getting elected as the MLA from Cortalim by the election authorities today evening.
She has been elected unopposed while the bye-election was scheduled to be held on 4 June.
It was earlier scheduled for 2 June but was postponed by two days, along with nomination and withdrawal dates, due to panchayat elections.
The Cortalim vacancy was created due to sudden demise of former tourism minister Matanhy Saldhana on 21 March.
Alina is Matanhy’s wife.
Parrikar’s plan to induct her before beginning of nomination process however was stalled by the Election Commission of India following a complaint in this regard by social activist Adv Aires Rodrigues.
Meanwhile, the Congress had finalised Raymond D’Sa as the party candidate while Ramakant Borkar had filed nomination once again as the UGDP candidate.
D’Sa however today withdrew since local Congress leaders, including Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho, were not coming forward to support him.
Borkar withdrew as the ECI said the UGDP has lost its recognition and he had to contest as an independent candidate.
It looks like Ramakant Borkar and Raymond D`sa are like old and infirm invalids.They require walking sticks & crutches,...or perhaps a wheel chair too, to contest elections.