MAPUSA
For BJP, Bardez remains the key to cobble up the numbers in government formation but with Congress playing catch up, the saffron party’s equation may just go awry.
No doubt, the saffron party has put all its effort and wherewithal to hold on to its bastion but it had to face an equally strong competition from one of its own men who switched sides on the eve of the assembly election and joined the Congress.
The BJP faced a tough challenge from former BJP man, Michael Lobo’s ‘Together for Bardez’ campaign in the taluka.
Lobo gave his best and went all out to prove a point to his former party men but whether he will succeed in his mission or whether the BJP will manage to puncture his progress will be known within hours when counting to the assembly election is taken up on Thursday morning.
The BJP and Congress can take some consolation as their stalwart leaders “ Rohan Khaunte and Michael Lobo “ are expected to retain their seats of Porvorim and Calangute respectively but in four other constituencies it will be a tough one to one fight for supremacy between the candidates of the two national parties.
TIVIM
The battle for top honours in Tivim constituency is expected to be between BJP’s Nilkant Halarnkar and Kavita Kandolkar of TMC. The TMC appears to have an edge in Tivim but in a close contest, one never knows.
MAPUSA
The commercial town of Bardez has always been BJP’s stronghold for over two decades and the party expects voters to stand by them this time too.
But Congress’ Sudhir Kandolkar, along with his mentor Michael Lobo, has put his best foot forward in the constituency. It could be anyone’s game and the margin of victory is expected to be too close for comfort as predicted by supporters from both the camps. The performance of AAP’s Rahul Mhambre and TMC’s Tarak Arolkar could also alter a lot of equations in the ultimate analysis.
SALIGAO
Although six candidates are trying their luck from the Saligao assembly constituency, the fight is between BJP’s Jayesh Salgaonkar and Congress’s Kedar Naik. Both the candidates are in a neck to neck contest and once again it could be a close finish. The presence of AAP’s Mario Cordeiro and Independent Rupesh Naik who is a BJP rebel could have an impact on deciding the winner.
SIOLIM
Once again, it’s a battle royal between BJP’s Dayanand Mandrekar and Congress’ Delilah Lobo, wife of Michael Lobo, in this coastal constituency. Both have put all their might and resources in the election campaign. Yet again, it’s a tough choice who will take the honours. Also, most number of candidates in the State (13 in all), are contesting from this constituency. One will have to wait and watch whether this will make a difference in electing the winner.
ALDONA
This constituency witnessed a close three-cornered fight between BJP’s Glenn Ticlo, Congress’ Carlos Ferreira and TMC’s Kiran Kandolkar but all indications are that the battle for the final push will be between the candidates of the two national parties.
In 2012 assembly elections, BJP had bagged six out of seven seats that are up for grabs in Bardez while in 2017 assembly polls that number came down to three.
The BJP retained Mapusa, Calangute and Aldona seats even as Goa Forward Party got the two seats of Saligao and Siolim while one each was bagged by Congress (Tivim) and Independent (Porvorim).
