THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
The political landscape in Mandrem is shaping up to be a battleground of strategic maneuvering, as Calangute MLA Michael Lobo stepped into the fray on Wednesday, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised for a decisive victory in Mandrem in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Lobo, a seasoned politician with deep grassroots connections spoke about his longstanding association with the constituency.
“The people of Mandrem have always been close to my heart. I regularly visited the constituency for 12-15 years during my tenure as a Zilla Panchayat member,” Lobo stated.
He further claimed that his engagement with Mandrem voters has remained strong over the years.
“Even today, people from Mandrem approach me for their work, and we have never distanced ourselves from the constituency. I assure you that our party candidate will definitely win in Mandrem,” he asserted.
Political observers have noted Lobo’s increasing interest in Mandrem, as he has been frequently seen interacting with local residents and political satraps.
Speculation is rife that Lobo himself may contest from Mandrem or could field a close associate or family member as a candidate in the upcoming elections.
Interestingly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, while attending a function in Mandrem a day earlier, also confirmed that BJP will field a candidate from the constituency.
This pronouncement is noteworthy, considering that the current MLA, Jit Arolkar, belongs to the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), an ally of the BJP-led State government.
With both leaders making strong statements about BJP’s prospects, political activity in Mandrem is expected to intensify in the coming months.
