New Delhi: A day after quitting the Trinamool Congress, former Goa Congress leader Alexo Reginaldo Lourenco said joining the Mamata Banerjee-led party was a “mistake” and faced a strong backlash from his supporters.
Goa goes to the polls on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji on Monday, Lourenco hinted at joining the Congress and said he was impressed by the TMC’s promise of a “new dawn” in the coastal state.
During door to door election campaign #curtorim, there was a reaction from the public. So I was recommended by my supporters to do course correction as soon as possible.
Yes, it’s better not to be late.https://t.co/q8FXr0v4Xp— Alexo Reginaldo Lourenco (@ReginaldoGoa) 17 January 2022
Lourenco, who was MLA from Curtorim and working president of Goa Congress, resigned from the party in December and joined the TMC. On Sunday, he resigned from TMC without assigning any reason.
He said his supporters are apprehensive that by joining the Trinamool Congress, an “outsider party” will be invited to Goa and the votes will be divided.
“I have hurt many friends and my near and dearest supporters (by crossing TMC). I have also hurt my family members and people standing by me,” Lourenco said at the press conference.
He further said, “I have fought for the people. I raised their issues in the assembly. I have worked for the people with all my heart and mind.”
Speaking about his future move, Lourenço said that his supporters had asked him to rejoin Congress.
“Congress leader Michael Lobo has asked me to rejoin the Congress party. I will listen to what my people say,” he said.
Last month, former Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar quit the TMC two months after joining the party, accusing the party of trying to divide Goa on religious lines.
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