Vote splits, minority outreach and late surges add suspense
BJP MLA Sankalp Amonkar and party leader Urfan Mulla led the BJP brigade on polling day at the Rumdamol Housing Board, which plays host to a significant Muslim vote, in a bid to make deep inroads into the minority electorate.
MARGAO
Will a resurgent Congress manage to halt the Aam Aadmi Party in Benaulim and Colva and prevent the Lotus from blooming again in Davorlim and Guirdolim? Or will the principal Opposition be left stranded midway in these crucial seats that have come sharply into focus after polling for the Zilla Panchayat elections in Salcete concluded on Saturday?
For perhaps the first time in recent years, the Congress launched a concerted campaign to regain the four Zilla Panchayat seats of Benaulim, Colva, Guirdolim and Davorlim — the latter two having been won by the BJP in the 2020 elections.
After polling ended at 5 pm on Saturday, questions are being raised over whether Congress’ spirited campaign in Benaulim and Colva will be enough to stop the Aam Aadmi Party from retaining and expanding its foothold. Similar questions loom over Davorlim and Guirdolim, where the BJP has left no stone unturned to retain both seats.
In Benaulim, AAP volunteers led by local MLA Venzy Viegas appeared satisfied with the polling percentage in both the Benaulim and Colva ZP constituencies. A confident Viegas was categorical in stating that the AAP would retain the Benaulim seat and also win Colva this time around.
Congress leaders and workers, however, also expressed optimism, claiming the polling percentage favoured the party and would help it breach the AAP stronghold in Benaulim.
Sources said Benaulim village has come under close scrutiny, with indications that votes may have been split among AAP and Congress candidates, while Independent candidate Maria Rebello is also believed to have polled a portion of the votes.
In the Davorlim ZP seat, speculation continues over whether a last-minute Congress–Goa Forward surge will work in favour of Congress candidate Danny Fernandes. The BJP, meanwhile, is said to have carried out a systematic campaign in Muslim-dominated areas, particularly in Rumdamol village, which has a sizeable Muslim population. Promises reportedly included legalising houses under the Mhaje Ghar scheme and resolving the issue of an administrator running the panchayat body.
Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai, who mobilised support among the Muslim community in favour of Fernandes, maintained that the BJP would realise the Congress would still poll substantial votes from the Rumdamol housing board, despite attempts to consolidate the minority vote in BJP’s favour.
The Guirdolim ZP seat, which recorded the highest polling percentage at 70 per cent, is also under the spotlight, with both the BJP and Congress mounting aggressive campaigns. The Balli segment, in particular, remained the centre of attention from the beginning of the campaign until polling concluded at 5 pm on Saturday.
Questions are being raised whether the gamble by Opposition leader Yuri Alemao to give the Guirdolim ticket to Sanjay Velip, the husband of Guirdolim BJP sitting member Sanjana Velip will pay dividends. Also, questions are being raised how the presence of Aam Aadmi Party candidate in the fray will affect the candidates fielded by the BJP and Congress.
