MARGAO
Will the Mhaje Ghar scheme deliver rich dividends for the BJP in its bid to retain the Davorlim Zilla Panchayat seat? The party appears confident that the scheme has helped it make inroads into the Muslim vote bank, traditionally seen as favouring the Congress.
BJP insiders claim the party expects to secure a sizeable share of Muslim votes from the Rumdamol Housing Board and the Bhagwati Housing Colony, largely on the back of the Mhaje Ghar scheme. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had publicly dangled the promise of legalising all houses in Davorlim before the 2027 Assembly elections, provided the electorate backed the BJP. This was followed up by PWD Minister Digambar Kamat during meetings with members of the Muslim community in the housing board areas.
With counting of votes scheduled for Monday, political circles are abuzz with speculation over whether the Mhaje Ghar scheme has indeed helped the BJP garner substantial Muslim support that might otherwise have gone to the Congress or other non-BJP candidates.
The BJP camp, led by Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar, is brimming with confidence of retaining the Davorlim seat with a margin of around 1,000 votes, banking on what it believes is a significant swing of Muslim voters in its favour.
However, Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai, who had extended support to Congress candidate Danny Fernandes, has dismissed the BJP’s claims. He asserted that the majority of Muslim votes in
Davorlim have gone to the Congress.
“The BJP might have used various tactics, including the Mhaje Ghar scheme, to influence voters. But I can say with confidence that the bulk of the Muslim vote has favoured the Congress in Davorlim. The election result may well surprise the BJP,” Sardesai said.
