MAPUSA
In the latest turn of events in Bardez taluka’s political landscape, Tuesday’s general elections have unveiled a narrative strikingly reminiscent of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Despite a marginal dip in overall voter turnout in Bardez, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains resolutely optimistic about clinching leads across all the seven constituencies in the taluka, including the historically contested Calangute.
Bardez, a crucial battleground, witnessed a turnout of 73.97 percent in the general elections, a mere 0.48 percent drop from the figures recorded in the preceding parliamentary polls.
Notably, four out of the seven assembly segments in Bardez saw a slight decline in voting percentages, with Mapusa experiencing the most substantial decrease of over 2 percent. However, amidst this marginal decline, certain constituencies have shown a noteworthy increase in turnout, particularly Calangute and Siolim, represented by the husband-wife duo of Michael and Delilah Lobo.
Aldona, under the stewardship of Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira, also saw a modest uptick in voting patterns.
With a voter turnout of 75.05 percent, Mapusa saw a significant drop of 2.5 percent in the numbers vis-Ã -vis the last 2019 parliamentary polls when Mapusa had registered 77.55 percent voting.
In analysing these trends, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza offered insight, expressing confidence in the party’s prospects despite the observed decline. D’Souza rationalised the higher turnout in 2019, citing the simultaneous assembly by-election, and projected a significant share of votes for the BJP in the current elections.
Calangute, often a focal point of political contention, showcased a marginal increase in turnout, maintaining its status as the sole constituency in Bardez where the Congress maintains a lead over the BJP.
The presence of MLA Michael Lobo and Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira, both aligned with the BJP, adds intrigue to the electoral dynamics. Calangute witnessed a marginal increase in voter turnout with 74.95 percent of people coming out to vote as compared to 73.72 percent in 2019. Similarly, Siolim also saw an increase in turnout with 76.7 percent of the voters casting their vote as opposed to 74.41 percent registered in 2019, an increase of little over 1 percent.
Aldona’s modest rise in voter turnout, attributed to the concerted efforts of incumbent Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira and former BJP MLA Glenn Tilco, underscoring the intense competition in the constituency.
Aldona witnessed a marginal increase in voter turnout with 73.94 percent of people coming out to vote as compared to 72.48 percent in 2019.
While some segments such as Porvorim, Tivim, and Saligao experienced minor drops in voter participation, the BJP remains undeterred in its pursuit of victory.
The least drop in voting took place in Porvorim with 73.74 percent of people casting their vote as compared to 72.94 percent turnout in 2019.
The assembly segments of Tivim (76.3%) and Saligao (74.91%) also saw a marginal decrease in polling. Both the constituencies had registered a higher turnout of 76.20% and 73.51% respectively in 2019.
With steadfast determination, the BJP continues to assert its dominance in Bardez, buoyed by strategic maneuvers and unwavering support from its cadre.
