MARGAO
As politicians brace up for a no holds barred battle over the Margao seat, where Opposition leader Digambar Kamat is seeking re-election for the eighth time in his career spanning 28-long years, one question doing the rounds in the city’s lanes and by-lanes is - who will hold sway over the crucial migrant vote-bank that can make or mar the candidates’ prospects in the February 14 elections.
For, Margao plays host to over 5,000-strong migrant voters, spread across Moti Dongor, Azad Nagar rechristened as Babu Nagar, Fakir bandh rechristened as Maria bandh, Khareband and Kharelem, and not to mention the migrant inhabited areas near Cine Lata and Gandhi market.
This question assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the migrant pockets have stood by Digambar Kamat, affectionately called “Baba” in these areas. And, this question further assumes significance given that BJP candidate, Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar popularly called “Babu” in the basties has emerged as a challenger to the Opposition leader in the ensuing polls.
And, not to mention young Margao Municipal Councillor Mahesh Amonkar fielded by the Trinamool Congress for Margao as the City Father represents the Khareband-Kharelem ward which has a sizeable migrant vote-bank.
Indeed, this crucial question has become a subject matter of debate “ whether Baba maintains his stranglehold over the migrant vote when his challengers, Babu and Mahesh also enjoy a significant presence in the basties and slums in the commercial capital.
Take note, the BJP had repeatedly failed to storm Digambar’s citadel, beginning with the 2005 bye-poll, which was necessitated after the Margao MLA quit the BJP to embrace the Congress. In the bye-poll, Digambar managed to scrape through, thanks to the one-sided polling recorded in the basties of Moti Dongor, Azad Nagar now Babu Nagar and the migrant vote.
This polling trend continued in the subsequent elections held in 2007, 2012 and 2017 when Digambar held his winning streak, with the BJP running out of ideas on how to make inroads into the migrant vote.
Babu Ajgaonkar’s entry on the Margao election scene by default, after the BJP ruled him out of the Pernem constituency, has brought to the centre stage the question -- who amongst the three players enjoys supremacy over the migrant vote?
Take note, Babu is not new to Margao politics. A former two-time Margao Municipal Councillor, Babu and his family enjoys the hold over Ward No 14 of the civic body, comprising of the areas near Cine Lata, Gandhi market and the market area. This was again evident in the 2021 municipal polls when Babu’s niece Dr Ronita Ajgaonkar made it to the civic body, defeating Digambar’s nominee in the SC reserved ward. It is not out of place to mention that Babu’s brother Rajendra had got elected from the ward and rose to become the Chairperson of the Margao civic body over a decade ago.
Political observers say that the ensuing election for Margao is set to witness a battle to control the migrant vote as the BJP candidate Babu and TMC’s nominee Mahesh Amonkar are expected to challenge’s Digambar’s supremacy in the migrant-inhabited areas.
Observers further say that the BJP, for the first time in a decade and a half, has a candidate who has the capability to make inroads in the migrant vote, more so near Cine Lata, Gandhi market and Babu Nagar and not to mention Moti Dongor, where the ruling party had come a cropper in the past.
Babu has already raised the issue of the absence of bare minimum amenities at Babu Nagar, Maria bandh, Moti Dongor, Khareband and Karelem, charging Digambar for treating these areas as a vote-bank.
TMC candidate Mahesh Amonkar says: “People of my ward including Khareband, Kharelem and other areas are all backing me. You will see the results this time round”.
The Opposition leader, however, remains unfazed by the presence of Babu Ajgaonkar and Mahesh Amonkar in the fray. Refusing to comment on his rival candidates, Digambar said Madgavkars in general and the inhabitants at Moti Dongor and other areas know him and his work for the society. “My people will not go anywhere in the coming election. They know how much I have worked for them over the years. I have been accessible to the people of Margao 24x7. All I want to say is that the people of Margao, including those inhabiting the migrant areas, know me and others in the fray”, Digambar added.
