MARGAO
Politicos of all hues are finally getting ready for a no holds barred battle, with less than 20 days to go for the February 14 Goa Assembly polls. And, so are their kith and kin, including wives, husbands, parents, children et al in support of the contesting candidates.
Already, one comes across the kith and kin of politicians on the ground, lending their helping hand to their near and dear ones in the fray. They have been spotted moving door-to-door, distributing leaflets and manifestos to the voters in support of their candidates.
Take the case of the high profile constituencies of Margao and Fatorda. In the 2017 polls, the wives of Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat and Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai played their roles in Margao and Fatorda respectively, in support of their contesting husbands.
Five years down the lane, Asha Kamat and Usha Sardesai have hit the campaign. Sources said the duo have kick-started their campaign amongst the Self Help Groups in support of their husbands.
Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar has got down to the battle-field Margao to cross swords with Opposition leader Digambar Kamat. Babu’s brothers, including Rajendra and the Ajgaonkar siblings, have all hit the ground.
In the coastal constituency of Benaulim, the Alemao siblings have started their campaign in a big way. Contesting the ensuing polls on the Trinamool Congress banner this time round, Churchill’s son Savio, besides daughters are all on the field moving door to door across the constituency along with nephew Warren Alemao.
In Cuncolim, former minister Joaquim Alemao is not in the fray for the first time in the last two decades. But, with son Yuri contesting the ensuing polls on the Congress banner, Joaquim is contributing to his son’s campaign in his way. The former MLA is believed to have called up his supporters and well-wishers with a plea to cast their vote in favour of son Yuri. Sources say Joaquim’s elder son Braz too has made his presence felt in Cuncolim in support of brother Yuri.
Congress heavyweight Aleixo Sequeira is back in the electoral fray in Nuvem after a gap of five years. Sequeira’s son has been seen lending a helping hand to his father to manage the campaign and sort out election-related issues.
Congress candidate for the Curtorim seat Moreno Rebello has kicked off his campaign accompanied by his Zilla Panchayat wife Michele. The duo together with their ardent supporters has covered a lot of ground in the Curtorim constituency to date.
Similar is the case in the Navelim constituency, where the kith and kin of candidates are prominently seen on the battlefield.
As Valanka Alemao is seeking election from Navelim for the first time, Churchill is shuttling between Benaulim and Navelim, attending small meetings with his supporters to drum up support for his daughter.
Former Independent MLA Avertano Furtado’s family members have hit the ground too. Brother Schubert and his team have been spotted moving around the constituency in support of brother Avertano.
Aam Aadmi Party’s Navelim candidate Pratima Coutinho filed her nomination papers on Tuesday before the Returning Officer, accompanied by husband Savio.
Watch out for the kith and kin of the contesting candidates to hit the ground as the candidates are all bracing up to launch an all-out campaign in the next fortnight ahead of the February 14 polls.
