Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao along with party leader Cipru Cardozo and Davorlim candidate Danny Fernandes door to door campaigning in Davorlim.
The four-cornered contest in Davorlim has virtually narrowed down to a straight fight between the BJP and the Congress, with the remaining two candidates contesting as Independents.
On paper, the BJP appears strong, having won the Davorlim ZP seat in 2015 and 2020, and retained it in the 2022 by-election necessitated by the resignation of Ulhas Tuemkar following his election as Navelim MLA.
However, a closer look at poll statistics of the last three elections indicates that BJP victories were largely due to a vertical split in the non-BJP vote. The Davorlim ZP constituency comprises Aquem-Baixo, Davorlim, and Rumdamol — areas with a significant minority population.
Unlike previous elections, the current contest has shaped into a direct battle between the BJP and the Congress, with Independents Pradeep Verlekar and Vallabh Varak also in the fray.
Against this backdrop, the key question in political circles is whether the Congress can consolidate the non-BJP vote behind its candidate, Danny Floriano Fernandes.
Recognising the importance of the Muslim vote, the BJP has drafted PWD Minister Digambar Kamat and Goa Haj Committee Chairman Urfan Mulla to campaign among minority voters. The party is also banking on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s flagship Mhaje Ghar housing scheme to make inroads into the Muslim electorate. Urfan Mulla has openly stated that the scheme will keep the BJP in good stead among minority voters.
The Congress, meanwhile, is fully aware that it cannot afford to lose the Muslim vote concentrated in Rumdamol and Davorlim. In this context, Congress candidate Danny Fernandes met Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai, seeking his support in canvassing among Muslim-dominated areas of the constituency.
If Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and party Chief Damu Naik did one round of campaigning in support of Party candidate Satyavijay Naik, leader of the opposition Yuri Alemao hit the ground for door to door campaigning from party candidate Danny Floriano Fernandes, indicating the high stakes involved in the electoral battle.
Candidates in Davorlim
*Floriano Fernandes (Cong)
*Pradeep Verlekar (IND)
*Satyavijay Naik (BJP)
*Vallabh Varak (IND)
