Reginaldo Apologies To Goans, Says Made A Mistake: Had Joined TMC For Curtorim But Was Wrong

PANAJI: In an emotional message to Goans, former Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco apologised to Goans, saying that he made a mistake by leaving the Congress and joining the Trinamool Congress party.

“I joined the TMC for the benefit of my people of Curtorim, but later on I realised it was a mistake. The feedback of my people, residents of my constituency who said it was a mistake joining an ‘outside’ party as it would only result in splitting of votes, my friends and even my family who told me that my decision was wrong. I apologise to the people of Curtorim and Goans for leaving the Congress,” Reginaldo said in a video message.

“I have hurt many friends and also my near and dear supporters (by crossing over to TMC). I also hurt my family members and those who stood with me in thick and thin,” he told media persons in Panaji.

Speaking about his future political course, Lourenco said that his supporters have asked him to rejoin the Congress party.

Weeks after he walked out of the Congress fold, joined the Trinamool Congress and quit it a day before without assigning any reason, former Goa Congress working president Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco on Monday hinted at rejoining his parent party.

He has apologised to his supporters and well-wishers for committing the “mistake” of joining the Mamata Banerjee-led party ahead of the next month’s Assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji on Monday, Lourenco said he had to face severe backlash after deciding to join Trinamool, which he believed would be in the interest of people because he was promised a “new dawn.”

“I have fought for the people. I had raised their issues in the Legislative Assembly. I have worked for the people with my heart and mind,” he said.

He said his supporters were apprehensive that joining Trinamool would invite the “outside party” to Goa which will split votes.

Lourenco had resigned as the MLA from Curtorim and also as a member of Congress last December to join the Trinamool Congress. He was then working president of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee.

On Sunday, he resigned from Trinamool without assigning any reason in the letter that he sent to Mamata Banerjee informing her about his decision to leave her party. (with inputs from Agencies)