BJP MLA Francis D’Souza expires, holiday on Fri, funeral on Sat

14 Feb 2019 08:35 PM

Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party lost two leading politicians in two days.



Former St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh on Wedensday and former minister and Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza on Thursday.


Both were critically ill for a long time. Government has declared a holiday on Friday and three-day mourning. Funeral on Saturday.


But there is a mystery surrounding Wagh’s death.


The five-time MLA of Mapusa Francis D’Souza was suffering with cancer and was hospitalised around two weeks ago in a Healthway hospital in Old Goa.


The 65-year old lawyer-turned politician had been suffering with cancer since 2017 and had a kidney transplant in USA.


Along with his ministerial colleague Pandurang Madkaikar, who is also bed-ridden since June last year, D’Souza was also dropped from the cabinet on 24th September last year, by ailing chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

Francisco D’Souza was elected the Mapusa MLA for the first time on BJP ticket in 1999, after he shifted from Dr Willy D’Souza’s Goa Rajiv Congress.


Since then, he consecutively won four more elections till his present term.


He had started his political career in 1985 as a councillor of Mapusa municipality and then served as the municipal president in 1986, 1995 and 1998.


With his death, Mapusa would be now added with Shiroda and Mandrem to hold bye-elections. 



Reporter: Bureau | Desk: Bureau



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