As the elections approach, many aspiring candidates are seen knocking on the doors of various parties in an attempt to try their luck. Some political leaders who have been involved in politics for many years are seen devising various tactics to shape the political future of their family members. Rohan Khaunte, an independent MLA from Porvorim, has made a 'one on one free' offer to the Congress party, saying he is ready to join the Congress on the condition that he gets the ticket from Porvorim and his brother Rajesh from Santacruz constituency. However, there was not much excitement or curiosity about his announcement in the Santa Cruz constituency.
Rudolf Fernandes is perceived as the prospective Congress candidate from St. Cruz. Current Santa Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes had joined the BJP along with his political mentor Babush Montserrat, alienating many traditional Congress voters in this constituency which has been a Congress bastion for the past several years. In such a scenario, Rajesh Khaunte is aspiring for the Congress candidature, where Congress is likely to win
Reacting to these developments, Rudolf Fernandes, a potential Congress candidate, said the party leadership has assured him that he would get a party ticket Santa Cruz constituency and that in a democracy, anyone is free to contest from any constituency. He said, “The constituency has deteriorated in the last five years and the local MLA is completely inactive. Many projects started during the tenure of the late MLA, Mami, Victoria Fernandes, are still incomplete. People are fully aware as who is rushing to the aid of the voters here and who is contesting the elections with an eye on their lands. The Congress party leadership is aware that a person who has done nothing in this constituency but has immense money to spend in the elections cannot be a criterion for a Congress candidature.”
Rudolf Fernandes claimed that he was getting an overwhelming responses from the people. "People still miss Mami and I shall carry on her legacy as a Congress candidate," he said.