MARGAO
Ruling BJP-backed Vibrant Margao’s determined bid to storm Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat’s Margao fort came a cropper with the party ending its campaign by winning in just two out of the 11 wards in the Margao civic polls.
The BJP-backed Vibrant Margao managed to win just two seats, wards 13 and 14, as the ruling party simply failed to stop the Kamat’s juggernaut in the civic polls.
While Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar’s niece, Dr Ronita, won in ward 14, Dr Sushanta Kurtarkar, sister of sitting BJP councillor Ketan retained ward 13 for the BJP. Party leader Sharmad Raiturkar’s debut in municipal polls went awry as he was defeated by Digambar’s Model Margao candidate Sagun Naik.
BJP Margao mandal President Rupesh Mahatme also failed to retain ward 17 for the party as Kamat’s young candidate Sidhanath Gadekar stormed the BJP citadel. This is the second time in as many elections that the BJP could not win the Comba (ward 12) seat despite being a party’s stronghold.
Attempts made by the ruling party to storm Kamat’s Moti Dongor also came a cropper with the Congress winning both the seats, Ganashyam Shirodkar (ward 18) and Damodar Varak (Ward 22), which had parts linked to the migrant-inhabited locality.
The Opposition leader had a free run in the city, with the BJP winning only in ward 13 (Comba) and ward 14 (market ward). Barring ward 15, where Independent Mahesh Amonkar emerged victorious, the Margao MLA’s victory was pronounced around the Malbhat-Aquem-Moti Dongor belt, besides the wards on the southern side of the railway line.
Dedicating the success of the Model Margao Panel to Late Mathew Fernandes, husband of winning candidate, Sandra (ward 20), Kamat said “this is a real tribute to his hard work. I also thank all my workers and supporters for their tireless efforts.”
“Self-respecting Madgaonkars have shown the BJP Government that they can’t be bought with money power. I compliment the hard-working citizens staying at Monte Hill for holding their esteem high and not falling to the pressure of the BJP who tried to lure them with money power. I am proud that they did not sell their self-respect to the insensitive BJP functionaries.”
