show of strength
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Canacona's Congman Isidore convenes meet in Gaondongrim
THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
Eager to prove his influence and popularity among the significant ST community in Canacona constituency, Canacona's Congress candidate Isidore Fernandes on Monday convened a rare public meeting at Gaondongrim.
A large number of people from the ST dominated villages of Gaondongrim and Cotigao attended the Congress meeting addressed by Fernandes, Daya Pagi, Mahadev Dessai, Janardhan Bhandari, former Gaondongrim sarpanch Rajendra Velip, former Cotigao sarpanch Rajesh Gaonkar and others.
It may be recalled that former Canacona MLA and rebel candidate Ramesh Tawadkar and BJP candidate Vijay Poi Khot have both claimed the support of the ST community, which has a large number of voters in Canacona constituency.
Gaondongrim and Cotigao have been considered the stronghold of Fernandes, who has traditionally polled more votes than his rivals in all previous elections, including the 2012 assembly polls.
Asking the electorate not to get carried away with fake promises to show that the ST community is with someone else, Fernandes maintained he has always been with the community.
“It is only because I have changed my campaigning strategy and do not move door-to-door with a large entourage, that my rivals are trying to show me in bad light. This election, I have doubled up support due to my personal interaction and victory will be ours,” Fernandes told the gathering.
Pagi, Dessai and Bhandari also spoke at the meeting, hitting out at the present and past BJP leadership for taking the ST community for granted and trying to play politics for their individual benefit.
On Sunday, a large number of Congress youth staged a rally on two-wheelers throughout Canacona constituency, moving from Agonda, municipal areas, Shristhal, Gaondongrim, Cotigao, Poinguinim and Loliem-Polem.
