MARGAO
Will Raksha Mantri Manohar Parrikar’s call to his foot soldiers to launch a surgical strike at Margao and retire five-time Margao MLA Digambar Kamat from politics have any effect on the prospects of the seasoned Congress campaigner in the commercial capital?
The BJP cadre is bubbling with confidence that the party has managed to make inroads into the lanes and by-lanes of the city slum areas and basties “ right from Moti Dongor to Azad Nagar, Fakirband to Khareband and Karelem to Sirvodem, considered Kamat’s stronghold, which has given unassailable lead to the former Chief Minister every election.
Kamat, however, remains unfazed. The five-time MLA has sought to know whether any politician or a political party can ever hope to garner cent per cent votes from any area or group. He, however, hastened to add that those who are dreaming of making inroads into certain pockets of the city will get a befitting answer when the EVMs are opened for counting. “I am aware that certain people tried to woo the electorate at Moti Dongor and other areas, but they will not succeed. The common man staying in these areas know that only Digambar Kamat comes to their rescue in times of need, unlike others, who make their presence felt only on the eve of election," Kamat asserted.
That the BJP cadre decided to concentrate in the migrant inhabited areas of the city, right from Moti Dongor to Azad Nagar and from Fakirband to Khareband, assumes significance that votes polled by Kamat in every election constituted his victory margin over the traditional rival, BJP. In fact, statistics would unravel the bitter truth that the BJP’s attempt to cut short Kamat’s innings has come a cropper every time for want of support from the migrant areas. That Kamat had in the past managed to secure unassailable leads of around 2,500-3,000 votes in the migrant inhabited areas is an open secret, enough to leave the BJP stranded midway.
Kamat’s friend-turned-foe Nitin Naik, who had joined BJP nominee Sharmad Raiturcar’s campaign, is believed to have worked in the migrant areas along with his friends, who enjoyed some influence in the city’s basties. Kamat, however, says with confidence that those who claimed credit for his election success in the past, will realise on March 11 that Madgavkars will stand by him again.
And, in an obvious reference to Nitin Naik’s claim that Comba area will give the BJP a huge lead of 900 votes, Kamat said those who are talking of margins and leads will get a befitting answer when the EVMs are opened for counting on March 11. “The BJP spoke of a semi-final battle in the bye-poll for ward No 21 of Margao Municipal Council, which my candidate won with a convincing margin. Now, they talk of garnering votes in the migrant areas," Kamat said.
While the two rival camps continue to make claims and counter claims, questions are indeed being raised for the first time in the commercial capital whether the BJP has managed to break into the city’s migrant areas. Only time will tell.
