MAPUSA
In differing strategies, BJP legislators have been proactive in their campaign in the panchayat elections willing to openly back and campaign their candidates, while Goa Forward Party and Congress MLAs have preferred to remain cautious as more than one of their supporters have been contesting in the polls.
While Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo has publicly declared his panels who are contesting in Calangute and Candolim Panchayats, Aldona MLA, Glenn Ticlo has campaigned door-to-door for his supporters in different panchayats in Aldona.
Paliencar keeps
a low profile
In Siolim, Water Resources Minister and Goa Forward Party MLA, Vinoda Paliencar has tactically stayed away from openly backing candidates in any of the panchayats.
Conversely, former minister and ex-BJP MLA, Dayanand Mandrekar has been meeting some of his supporters and also held corner meetings in the party’s stronghold areas.
Sources said in many wards, three or even four of the MLA’s supporters have been contesting the election.
According to a source, Paliencar skipped a meeting with his supporters in Assagao on Thursday evening. “At the last minute, the MLA sent a word that he was not well and wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting. Most of the gathered candidates were disappointed,” the source disclosed.
However, Paliencar’s opponent, Mandrekar has held corner meetings with his supporters in Assagao, Verla-Canca, Anjuna and Siolim-Marna.
Mandrekar has a strong supporter in Oxel Sarpanch, Rama Parab and expects to pocket the panchayat in his backyard with ease.
“I have openly supported candidates in only those wards where there is straight one-to-one fight between my supporter and the opposition,” said Vinoda Paliencar, Water Resources Minister.
He said in many wards, four to six of his supporters have been contesting the election and in such circumstances he did not feel fit to come out in the open in support of any
one candidate.
Halarnkar takes
a backseat
In Tivim, Congress MLA, Nilkant Halarnkar has refrained from campaigning for this supporters but former BJP MLA, Kiran Kandolkar has been moving around backing his supporters in selective wards in some of the panchayats.
Sources said Halarnkar has strategically stayed away from the campaign as many of his supporters have been contesting the polls.
“I prefer to give a free hand to supporters who are contesting the elections. Those who have a wish to contest the polls should be allowed to try their luck,” Harlankar said admitting that in many wards, three to four of his supporters were contesting the elections.
