Benaulim MLA to continue backing govt

Margao: Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, the lone NCP legislator in the state assembly, said that notwithstanding the current political developments in the state, he would continue extending his support to the BJP government. “But my support will be issue-based, as it has been so far,” he said on Friday.

Commenting on the switching over of 10 Congress MLAs to BJP, Alemao said the move will make BJP “even more strong”.

“But whether they have done the right thing or wrong, I don’t know,” he said.

Alemao said he had extended support to the BJP government led by Manohar Parrikar and has now extended it to the Pramod Sawant-led government as well. “As long as Sawant is there as chief minister, I will extend support to BJP. Sawant is a good man who has risen from among the weaker sections of society,” Alemao said.

The former PWD minister is still bitter over the “ill-treatment” meted to him by Congress.

Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and bypolls, Alemao had said he wouldn’t support Congress if it attempts to form the government after the results. “I’m not interested in having any truck with Congress. Is Churchill here only to be offended by Congress?” Alemao had then said.