the goan I network
MARGAO
What exactly went wrong for the Aam Aadmi Party in minority heartland Salcete, where the poll pundits had expected the party to offer a fight to rival Congress, more so in the five segments of Benaulim, Nuvem, Velim and Cuncolim, besides Curtorim?
As the AAP factor came a cropper since it could not stop the Congress’ free run in the minority heartland, AAP leadership headed by party state chief Elvis Gomes went into a huddle to find out how the party fared below the expectations of the party leaders and the voters as well.
A glance at the voting statistics, however, showed that AAP was literally stranded midway through the race in Salcete. The party vote tally in the eight Assembly segments of Salcete shows the party crossed the four digit figure in all the segments, barring Margao.
However, while the party improved its position in Salcete as compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha election, statistics showed that the AAP could not match its performance of the Assembly elections held just two years ago in 2017.
In fact, a glance at the statistics of the 2017 Assembly elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls reveal that while AAP tally of votes in Salcete’s eight Assembly segments were pegged at 21720 votes, the tally came down drastically this time round, with Elvis managing to poll only 13,940 votes “ a difference of 7780 votes.
Take the case of the Benaulim segment. In the 2017 Assembly election, AAP’s candidate Royla Fernandes had polled around 4182 votes, and in the process emerged as the lone AAP candidate to save her deposit. Two years down the line, AAP could manage to poll only 2859 votes, when expectations were high that AAP may come close to the Congress and reduce its margin of lead.
Nuvem is another Assembly segment where AAP was expected to put up a good show. In the 2017 Assembly poll, AAP surprised many a poll pundit when its candidate polled 3389 votes. This time, however, Elvis could poll only 2020 votes.
The Velim Assembly segment, which plays host to many a AAP volunteer, too could not match its 2017 Assembly performance in the just-concluded election. While AAP in 2017 had polled 3403 votes, the party candidate had to settle for 2491 votes, indicating that the party could not make inroads in segments where the party was expected to put up a good show.
Incidentally, if the Congress leadership was cautious of the growth of the Aam Aadmi Party in Christian-dominated areas of South Goa, the apprehensions were certainly not entirely misplaced. Statistics of the Lok Sabha poll reveal that AAP crossed the four-digit figure in all the eight segments of Salcete, barring Margao.
Interestingly, barring Cortalim, which has a large minority presence, AAP could not cross the four-digit figure in the rest of the Assembly segments of South Goa, in the hinterland areas and the remaining three segments of Mormugao taluka.
