MARGAO
It’s election time. And every time wagons carrying hundreds of tons of coal leaves the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) on its journey to the hinterland, people along the tracks passing through the villages of Salcete may be left to wonder what lies in store for them post-assembly elections.
But, they may be faced with a bigger political question “ which amongst the candidates and political parties in the fray would be in a better position to get the three linear projects scrapped, including the controversial track doubling and coal transportation projects.
For, in a taluka where the BJP has limited presence and where the anti-BJP parties hold sway over the electorate, confusion reign which amongst the political parties and their candidates would address the burning issue.
Reason: Congress may have adopted a resolution months ago to scrap the three linear projects once the party returns to power in 2022. The principal opposition party, however, may realize the bitter truth may find the ground reality different -- that rival political parties and candidates, who had actively participated in the two-year-old long anti-track doubling agitation, are all in the fray, vying for the same political space and the vote where the BJP is non-existent.
Leaders heading the anti-coal agitation too find themselves in rival party camps, some directly in the electoral battle, while many others have thrown their weight behind rival parties and their candidates, throwing up a moot question whether there may be a division of the anti-coal and track doubling vote amongst the players in the fray.
CUNCOLIM
Take the case of the Guirdolim-Chandor area, the epicentre of the anti-coal and track doubling agitation, coming under the Cuncolim constituency. Congress-turned-BJP sitting MLA Clafasio Dias may have to grapple with the contentious issue as he goes about canvassing for votes in these two villages.
Congress, however, have a bigger task at hand to garner the anti-coal vote in these two villages. For, anti-BJP parties including the Trinamool Congress and Revolutionary Goans party too have set their eye on this very vote. And, the reason is simple. If Congress candidate Yuri Alemao had lent his support to the ongoing agitation from day one, TMC candidate Dr Jorson Fernandes has been a prominent figure in the anti-coal agitation. Revolutionary Goans party candidate Wilson Cardozo, who hails from Guirdolim, is also expected to pocket this vote.
NUVEM
The situation in Nuvem, where the anti-coal stir had affected the village of Majorda, is no different either. Congress party and its heavyweight candidate Aleixo Sequeira may be eager to garner the anti-coal vote given the party’s solemn promise to scrap the three linear projects. He may be pleased with the fact that the convenor of Goemcho Ekvott, Creson Antao, which was heading the anti-coal agitation, has openly lent support to the Congress.
The TMC and its candidate Jose Raju Cabral, however, have also set their eyes on the anti-coal vote. For, Cabral too was a popular figure of the anti-Coal agitation, working shoulder to shoulder with other activists during the stir.
BENAULIM
In a bid to woo the voters of Benaulim, Congress Chief Girish Chodankar reiterated the other day the party’s commitment to scrap the three linear projects. Local party leaders, Royla Fernandes, Gina Pereira and Rodney Almeida have been prominent faces in the anti-coal stir.
On the other hand, Aam Aadmi Party Benaulim candidate Venzy Viegas too had participated in the agitation in his way and not to mention TMC MLA Churchill Alemao, who had opposed coal handing at the MPT, both within and outside the Assembly.
FATORDA
In Fatorda, both the Goa Forward Party and the Aam Aadmi Party may vie for the anti-coal vote. While Goa Forward MLA Vijai Sardesai had lent his support to the agitation, AAP candidate Sandesh Telekar was another prominent figure in the agitation and was even booked by the police for his role in the stir.
VELIM
In Velim too, the Congress and AAP may battle it out for the anti-coal vote as party candidates Savio D’Silva and Cruz Silva, respectively had participated in the stir.
Says Goencho Ekvott Convenor, Creson Antao: “I am backing the Congress candidate in Nuvem since the party has openly promised to scrap the three linear projects. Some of the activists, who were part of the stir, are also contesting on other party symbols. We will have to wait and see whether the anti-coal vote may split amongst the contestants, but I am confident people will take the right decision in the interest of the State”.
Guirdolim village bio-diversity Management Committee Chairperson Agostinho Antao, who has taken up the issue of water bodies devastated by the track doubling project, said when the main contestants have been all part of the anti-coal stir, people will cast their vote by considering other local factors as well.
