Valanka's supporters say they told her to contest

MARGAO: It's barely 7am, yet several youngsters, or 'freshers' as Valanka Alemao calls them, are getting ready for the first meeting of the day with Congress's woman candidate from Salcete. These youngsters, all volunteers handpicked by Valanka, are experiencing elections for the first time and are representatives of 39 booths across Benaulim constituency and all come with their own fresh perspectives to offer.
It is not very difficult to find Alemao Mansion in Varca. All you have to do is follow the line of people walking towards her place. An old man even asked that his blind neighbour who was also was on his way to the house be given a lift to doorstep of the house, which is located a few minutes from the Varca Church.
It's a little past 10 am and after finishing her work at her election office, Valanka in her Indian attire has just returned home for a cup of tea, only to find that that there are hordes of locals, especially women who waiting to meet their 'leader'.
Valanka takes about half an hour to greet her supporters. She knows each one by name and gives them an update on the matters she is taking up for them. The workers attached to her father Churchill Alemao point out that Valanka has a different style from to her father-they attribute it to her young age and modern outlook.
One of them says "Her team is like her family only". Then, Valanka asks if her volunteer in charge of the self help groups has taken the day off to celebrate her birthday. Her personal secretary Trisha is busy taking down instructions while her personal assistant Gopal calls her to confirm plans for the day.
Getting ready to return to her election office again, Valanka says, "I like to take and finish one meeting at a time and my schedule works around these meetings".
The younger Alemao has toured the entire constituency, be it door-to-door meetings, corner meetings or making time to meet her supporters as late as 10 pm. As Valanka sets out to meet a few supporters, a large number of women immediately swell up behind her as she walks to her voter's houses. "Never before have so many women participated in the election process (in the run up to the election)" claims Valanka while pointing out that most of these women are part of the 60 self help groups she had initiated in the last 4 years.
Talking to TOI, these locals talk about how they now can sell their homemade pickles or sweets, and say that Valanka has helped them whenever they needed assistance with the children-whenever they needed basic items like notebooks or uniforms.
As Valanka walks to the home on the outskirts of Benaulim , a little girl shouts "Valanka Bai, Valanka Bai." To this, the younger Alemao smiles and adds that in Benaulim , she is known by her name and not as Churchill's daughter. "How can I ask someone to vote for me just because I am my father's daughter? added Valanka, while stating that leaders are not born but made
The families of the voters she is meeting all make her promise that she takes up garbage management, see that English is the medium of instruction, and promote tourism development and the like.
Dismissing TOI's question on the anti-Congress wave affecting her chances, she says: "People are telling me that they are in fact happy that I am part of the Congress party because of what the party has done". When asked about the much debated 'family raj' issue, her supporters jeer in response and say that it was them who asked her to stand for elections. "I will always be my father's daughter, his friends will be my friends and his enemies will be my enemies and I am proud of what he has done, but as far as Benaulim is concerned for the last many years I have been carrying out social work here on my own".
Valanka recalls the recent Youth Congress elections controversy and adds that while she was wronged in being disqualified, the episode was a turning point in her life as she got the chance to tour all 40 constituencies and connect with the youth.
As Valanka completes her rounds, some 'ramponkars' meet her and convey their grievances regarding issues like security, need for better fishing nets , to which she immediately dials the number of Pele (another member of her team) who she says is appraised of the issue and is working on plan for them.
Valanka's next meeting to be held behind closed doors is to discuss the few days left before the 'D' day. When asked what she thought of her chances she quickly replies, " what do you think "and adds that it would be best to ask the public.