Ex-Goa CM Churchill Alemao joins TMC

PANAJI: Former Goa Chief Minister Churchill Alemao, who recently resigned from Congress after his daughter was denied a ticket, today joined Trinamool Congress and will contest Lok Sabha election from South Goa.

Alemao said he will be filing his nomination tomorrow in Margao in the presence of his supporters.

TMC leader and West Bengal Minister Madan Mitra was in Goa to admit Alemao into the party.

"We have been in discussion with Churchill Alemao since last one month. Finally we came to a decision yesterday," Mitra told PTI over phone from Margao town, where he addressed a workers' rally earlier in the day.

TMC had unsuccessfully contested Goa Assembly elections in 2012.

Mitra said he would meet leaders in Goa, including former Chief Minister Dr Wilfred D'Souza, who headed the party during the state elections in the beach state.

"I will request him to join the election campaign, if possible," he added.

Alemao had quit Congress last week after his daughter Valanka was refused the Congress ticket from South Goa.

He will contest against Congress' Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and BJP's Narendra Sawaikar in South Goa seat.