MARGAO
When the Aam Aadmi Party made its debut in State politics, political rivals were quick to dismiss the party as the Delhi-based party, only out to split the secular and non-BJP vote.
Welcome to the minority heartland of Salcete, where AAP is in the fray in all the eight Assembly seats at stake. At least in a couple of constituencies, AAP candidates are no longer seen as spoilers and vote splitters, but have emerged as contenders, competing with high profile candidates and political parties for a share of the vote.
In Cuncolim, Velim or Benaulim, questions are no longer asked whether the presence of Elvis Gomes or Cruz Silva or Royla Fernandes respectively will favour which candidate or party. Here, questions are asked whether AAP’s Chief Ministerial candidate Elvis can get the better of Joaquim Alemao or Clafacio Dias or BJP’s Rajan Naik in Cuncolim, or whether Cruz can outsmart seasoned Felipe Neri or sitting MLA Benjamin or Goa Forward’s Anthony Babush in Velim and whether Royla can make it to the Legislative Assembly sidetracking her heavyweight and high profile rivals, including Caitu Silva and Churchill Alemao.
In fact, AAP entry into Salcete politics is being keenly watched by poll players at least in Cuncolim, Velim and Benaulim, even as the party has managed to earn goodwill in the remaining five constituencies of Curtorim, Nuvem, Margao, Fatorda and Navelim.
Says AAP State Coordinator and Chief Ministerial candidate: “Our rivals and parties were quick to write us off as non-serious contenders. But, AAP has won a lot of goodwill from the people of Salcete over the last few months. I can say with confidence that the silent majority vote will work in favour of AAP candidates. Over the last few days, AAP’s position has improved in almost every constituency in Salcete. People turning towards the party after being fed up with the Congress-BJP politics”.
AAP Coordinator for Benaulim, Cuncolim, Velim and Navelim constituencies, Serafino Cota exuded confidence that the undercurrents will work in favour of party candidates. “I agree that AAP has emerged strong in Cuncolim, Velim and Benaulim, but we are not anything short in Navelim or the remaining seats in Salcete. I again repeat the seasoned campaigners should not take our candidates for granted."
In Benaulim, Royla has covered a lot of ground, banking on the silent majority of voters across Salcete’s coastal belt. While the party is working hard in Benaulim, the village having the highest number of voters, AAP has indeed made its slow, but steady presence felt in other villages, including Carmona, Orlim, Cavelossim, etc.
Incidentally, unlike other parties, most of AAP’s nominees in Salcete are professionals. Elvis Gomes (retd. bureaucrat), Royla Fernandes (architect), Cruz Silva (engineer), Edwin Vaz (IT engineer), Mariano Godinho (doctor), Sidharth Karapurkar (Engineer).
Says political commentator, Adv Cleofato Coutinho: “It is true that a couple of AAP candidates are indeed in reckoning in some of the seats. We cannot call them splitters any longer. In Cuncolim and Velim, AAP candidates were strong on their own before they joined the party. Similarly, if Royla is covering lot of ground in Benaulim, may be it is for the simple reason that people opposed to the seasoned campaigners look at her as an alternative”.
