Flamboyant former minister and MLA, Mickky Pacheco on Thursday disclosed plans to contest the bye-election for the Curchorem Assembly seat in the event of a vacancy arising out of any decision by the incumbent MLA to quit the seat to pave way for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to contest the election.
MARGAO
“A group of people from Curchorem have called on me with a plea to contest from Curchorem if the incumbent MLA Nilesh Cabral quits to make way for Manohar Parrikar to contest from the constituency. I am not opposed to the idea. I have already made my presence felt in the constituency. If the situation arises, I will certainly throw my hat in the ring for the bye-election,” Mickky said.
When pointed out that he may be accused by the Congress for trying to split the secular vote to benefit the BJP, Mickky shot back, “Where is the question of splitting the secular vote? If the Congress thinks that my presence will split the secular vote and benefit the BJP, then the party should back my candidature for the Curchorem seat.”
When the media questioned whether he is serious in throwing his hat in the ring for the Curchorem seat and cross swords against the Chief Minster in the event of a bye-election, Mickky said, “It is not a question whether I am contesting against the Chief Minister or not. The question is that I have been approached by my well-wishers to contest from Curchorem”,
To another question, Mickky said that he has not withdrawn from Nuvem constituency, saying that his offices at Betalbatim, Nuvem and Loutolim will remain open for the benefit of the people of
the constituency.
Meanwhile, the former Nuvem MLA has slammed the government for fixing the panchayat election on June 25, saying that the schedule will affect the Sao Joao celebrations across the state scheduled on June 24.
