the goan I network
VALPOI
With the Congress presently representing the ZP constituency and the BJP controlling the assembly constituency, a keen tussle between the two rival parties is underway to win the Nagargao ZP seat, a key area in Sattari taluka, which has been reserved for OBC women.
The Nagargao ZP constituency consists of five panchayats in the Valpoi assembly constituency, Nagargao, Sanvordem, Khotoda, Guleli and Bhironda.
Following the formation of Nagargao ZP, Ladu Harvalkar was the first member elected from this constituency. Later, it was reserved for OBC candidates and Humalo Gawade was elected as ZP member in 2010. In the 2015 elections, Congress candidate, Premnath Hazare, won defeating the BJP candidate, Rajesh Gavkar, by a significant margin.
Hazare had polled 6,058 votes, while Gavkar secured 4,251 votes, followed by independent candidates, Nandkumar Kopardekar (271) and Govind Barve (482).
However, at that time, the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was in the Congress and the party had complete control in Sattari.
Since Rane switched to the BJP in 2017, the BJP is now confident of winning in Nagargao, even as the
party affirms complete control in Valpoi assembly constituency.
The BJP has fielded Rajashree Kale. The BJP has been actively campaigning in all five panchayats which form Nagargao ZP constituency by organising various meetings. The BJP has been promoting development as its promise to voters, given that BJP governments rule in the state and centre.
The Congress party has fielded Usha Mest. Unemployment is one of the key issues being highlighted by the party.
According to Congress workers, the youth are frustrated over lack of employment opportunities in Sattari taluka.
Incidentally, Rane is also aware of this problem, but has instead blamed companies at the industrial estates in Pissurlem and Honda for failing to employ locals.
The Congress has been seeking to highlight the BJP’s failure to provide employment to locals and hopes to get the frustrated youth and other voters to re-elect a Congress candidate in Nagargao.
