Sure of win, but victory margins fluctuate between 1,000 & 3,000
the goan I network
MAPUSA
Almost all the candidates put up a conservative figure to the victory margin which fluctuated between 1,000 to 3,000 votes.
The three ministers including the deputy chief minister in Bardez have expressed confidence to get re-elected but not paying much attention to the margin.
In the popular coastal constituency of Calangute, the contest could get down to the wire between Congress’ Joseph Sequeira and BJP’s Michael Lobo.
While Sequeira said that he would win by a margin of at least 1,900 votes, Lobo scaled down his margin anywhere between 2,000 to 3,000 votes.
“We had calculated to win by more than 3,000 votes. But after taking into consideration certain factors, we have arrived at a figure of less than 3,000 votes as our victory margin,” Lobo said.
In Tivim, a confident Nilkanth Halarnkar said his victory was assured by over 3,000 votes and his touch with the people in the last five years will hold him in good stead.
His BJP rival, Kiran Kandolkar also expressed confidence of sailing through by a margin of around 3,500 votes. “I have already made preparations to celebrate my victory by stocking large amount of fireworks,” a beaming Kandolkar said. Tourism Minister, Dilip Parulekar, said he would put it across his nearest rival Goa Forward’s, Jayesh Salgaonkar by 3,000 votes in Saligao. Salgaonkar, however, is confident of dethroning the tourism minister by over 2,000 votes.
“The presence of Agnel Fernandes of Congress has worked to my advantage as voters saw through the vote-splitting game,” Salgaonkar said.
Water Resources Minister, Dayanand Mandrekar, said he would make history by getting elected for the fifth time from Siolim. He said his victory margin will be around 2,000 votes.
His rival Goa Forward’s, Vinod Palyekar, is also confident of stopping the minister’s juggernaut in Siolim and expects to win by over 3,000 votes.
In Aldona, Congress candidate Amarnath Panjikar said he was sure of putting it across his BJP rival, Glen Ticlo, and win by over 1,000 votes. Ticlo was unavailable for comment as calls made to him went unanswered.
Deputy Chief Minister, Francis D’Souza said he was not worried about the margin but what mattered was a win. His Congress rival, Vijay Bhike, predicts a victory margin of 1,652 votes and attributes the figure to “exact calculation”. In Porvorim, Independent candidate Rohan Khaunte said he will win comfortably and sail through by over 3,000 votes despite all odds against his BJP rival, Guruprasad Pawaskar. Pawaskar, however, was not available for comment.
CANDIDATES LOW ON EXPECTATIONS
Joseph Sequeira (Congress): 1,900 votes - CALANGUTE
Michael Lobo (BJP): between 2,000 & 3,000 votes
Nilkanth Halarnkar (Cong): more than 3,000 votes - TIVIM
Kiran Kandolkar (BJP): around 3,500 votes
Dilip Parulekar (BJP): 3,000 votes - SALIGAO
Jayesh Salgaonkar (GFP): over 2,000 votes
Dayanand Mandrekar (BJP): around 2,000 votes - SIOLIM
Vinod Palyekar (GFP): over 3,000 votes
Amarnath Panjikar (Cong): over 1,000 votes - ALDONA
Vijay Bhike (Cong): 1,652 votes - MAPUSA
Rohan Khaunte (Ind): 1,652 votes - PORVORIM
