the goan I network
MARGAO
Billed as a semi-final between archrivals “ Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias and the father-son duo of Joaquim and Yuri Alemao -- ahead of the 2022 Assembly election, the battle for the Guirdolim Zilla Panchayat appears poised for an interesting finish.
A no-holds-barred campaign is underway in Guirdolim. While Goa Forward leader Yuri Alemao, backed by father Joaquim, is leading the election campaign of Congress candidate Sonia Fernandes, Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant aka Babu Kavlekar and Cong-turned-BJP MLA Clafacio Dias are working overtime for party candidate Sanjana Velip to ensure that the Lotus blooms in Guirdolim.
The two camps appeared leaving nothing to chance in a bid to woo the electorate in the villages of Balli, Ambaulim, Paroda, Guirdolim and Chandor. Both the camps in private concede that the contest is evenly poised with Balli expected to go the BJP way, while the twin villages of Chandor and Guirdolim will in all probability rally behind the Congress.
That leaves the remaining two villages of Ambaulim and Paroda, which are expected to decide the fate of the candidates. It is not out of place to mention here that Paroda is the home village of the Cuncolim MLA, while Ambaulim was formerly a part of Kavlekar’s Quepem constituency.
Political observers say that the Babu factor is expected to play a role in the villages of Balli and Ambaulim. That explains the presence of the Deputy CM in these villages, a fact taken seriously by the Congress camp.
Incidentally, amongst the three breakaway Congress MLAs from Salcete, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias was the only MLA, who came out openly in favour of fielding a party candidate on the Lotus symbol.
Says Clafacio: “After taking into account the support pouring in from across the Guirdolim constituency, I can say with confidence that the BJP will win the seat. People of Chandor, Guirdolim and my home village, Paroda, are aware of the reasons why I decided to join the BJP. And, I have proved by getting road works sanctioned and have laid the foundation stone to resolve the Chandor railway crossing issue.”
Aware that his decision to embrace the saffron brigade may not go down well with the Catholic voters in the constituency, Clafacio reminded the voters that there a total of 15 Catholic MLAs in the BJP.
“I have joined the BJP to usher in development of Cuncolim constituency. The people know how developmental files were kept on hold,” he said, adding that his decision to join the BJP will not have a big impact on the voters.
The father-son duo of Joaquim and Yuri Alemao, who are leading the Congress campaign in Guirdolim, pointed out that they have decided to support the Congress candidate in order to keep the BJP at bay.
“People of Guirdolim will teach the MLA a lesson through the ballot. The Congress has covered a lot of ground in the constituency and I am confident that candidate Sonia will win the seat,” Joaquim said.
Son Yuri pointed out that he still continues to be a member of the Goa Forward Party, but has come out to support the Congress candidate to defeat the BJP. “I have not quit GFP. But, since the party has decided not to contest and to support candidates capable of defeating the BJP, I have decided to back the Congress to the hilt in Guirdolim,” Yuri said.
Political observers say that behind the decision of the Alemao’s to rally behind the Congress is the fact that the duo is out to tap the sentiments against the local MLA after he crossed over to the BJP camp in July last and position themselves to
challenge Clafacio in the 2022 electoral battle.
