the goan I network
MARGAO
After rounds of speculations for close to a month and half now, it’s finally D-day for the 53 candidates who are in the fray for eight assembly seats which are at stake in politically dominated Salcete taluka.
The fate of three former chief ministers - Luizinho Faleiro, Digambar Kamat and Churchill Alemao - besides political heavyweights, Joaquim Alemao, Filipe Neri Rodrigues and sitting minister, Avertano Furtdao will be finally decided on Saturday.
Besides, counting of votes would determine the fate of regional satraps, including Goa Su Raj party chief Mickky Pacheco and Goa Forward party mentor Vijai Sardesai, who are contesting from Nuvem and Fatorda respectively.
Questions are being raised whether the Congress will improve its fortunes in 2017 after the near rout in the minority heartland five years ago in 2012. Any improvement in the tally of the party from two seats in 2012 in Salcete, poll observers point out, will have an influence on the formation of the next government as Salcete has always been the powerhouse of the party over the years.
The vote counting is also significant for debutant Aam Aadmi party and its chief ministerial candidate, Elvis Gomes, who is contesting from Cuncolim. Though AAP had made its strong presence felt in a couple of constituencies, including Cuncolim, Benaulim and Velim, it’s still unclear whether the party will cross the last hurdle with the help of the silent majority of voters.
Saturday will also be significant for the political careers of Congress chief ministerial candidates, state Congress president, Luizinho Faleiro and Digambar Kamat. It is believed in Congress circles that while Faleiro is expected to stake claim for the Congress Legislature Party post if the Congress comes close to the magic figure of 21 seats, party leaders expect Digambar Kamat to emerge as a leader if the Congress falls short of a simple majority.
Counting of votes will also decide the fate of new faces fielded by the Congress in the seats of Benaulim, Cuncolim, Nuvem and Fatorda. So is the case of the Alemao brothers, Churchill and Joaquim, who have made a determined bid to make a political comeback after the rout of the Alemao clan in 2012. For the BJP too, Saturday will be a D-day. For, the opening of the EVMs will determine whether the BJP retains its lone Cuncolim seat and make a comeback in Fatorda and Margao, and open its account in Curtorim.
