Party leaders launched simultaneous operations to stop Opposition free run
MARGAO
It’s not exactly Mission Salcete, but simply “Operation Lotus” that the BJP is pinning hopes in the minority stronghold of Salcete with party leaders launching simultaneous operations with the sole objective of stopping Congress’ free run in the taluka on the polling day on May 7.
Unlike the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, wherein the BJP leadership concentrated more on its strongholds in the hinterland areas, leaving Salcete virtually open for the Congress to have a free run, the ruling dispensation seemed to have not left a single stone unturned with the hope the Lotus blooms in the taluka.
If the key players comprising of Congress turncoats, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira and Digambar Kamat, besides Independent MLA Reginaldo Lourenco working openly with an agenda to reduce the Congress’ lead in the minority stronghold, a host of local players worked underground along Salcete coastal belt in a bid to break and wean away sections of voters to vote for symbol Lotus on polling day.
If sources are to be believed, a couple of senior Cabinet ministers in Chief Minister Pramod Sawant government are believed to have had interactions with stakeholders from the tourism industry, with promises made to resolve the issues plaguing the industry.
The big presence made by Social Welfare Minister, Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai in Cuncolim during the final stages of the poll campaign shows a determined bid by the BJP to ensure the Lotus blooms in the Assembly segment represented by Opposition leader Yuri Alemao.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant seemed to have personally taken charge of the situation in Salcete as evident by the number of visits he embarked across the taluka during the fortnight-long campaign.
That’s not all. Reports did the rounds during the weekend that certain individuals through their local contacts made a bid to make a breakthrough in areas such as Benaulim and Colva of Benaulim constituency.
In fact, BJP South Goa candidate Pallavi Dempo had kicked off her campaign in Salcete with a run in the temples and churches. Husband Shrinivas aka Baba Dempo too worked on the ground across Salcete, tapping football connections and the goodwill generated by Brand Dempo over the years to Pallavi’s advantage.
A political observer pointed out that the BJP seemed to have put in time, energy and resources this time round in a bid to stop Congress from having a free run in Salcete. “Compared to the previous Lok Sabha elections, the BJP seemed to have made a determined bid to make inroads in Salcete. There was a time when the party had no leaders even to approach the voters. Today the BJP has big time leaders such as Minister Aleixo Sequeira, Digambar Kamat and Reginaldo Lourenco who campaigned for the party in Nuvem, Margao and Curtorim. Navelim was taken care of this time by the party MLA Ulhas Tuenkar. Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai led the army into Cuncolim,” he said.
