PANAJI
The third Mood of the State Survey conducted by Prudent Media, The Goa Everyday and Goan Varta shows that despite moving to the Centre, Manohar Parrikar continues to be the most popular and respected leader in the State with the highest rating of 26.9.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is not far behind with a rating of 16.4 and the general consensus is that the Mandrem MLA is growing as a leader and is perhaps the right person to lead the BJP into the 2017 elections.
One of the questions asked pertained to the choice of candidate for the post of chief minister and the biggest surprise thrown up by the survey was Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo who is on par with Goa Forward leader Vijai Sardesai with a rating of 6.9.
Apart from Parrikar and Parsekar, AAP leader Elvis Gomes also has a rating of 6.9.
For the Congress the leaders that emerged as candidates for the top post were Pratapsingh Rane, Luizinho Faleiro and Digambar Kamat all former chief ministers. But the writing on the wall for the party is that it has failed to develop a second line of leaders and the only person who made it to the CM hall of fame was Vishwajit Rane, but with a rating lower than the big three.
Despite a high rating, Parsekar is not the undisputed king of Mandrem. A united opposition and a belligerent BBSM have created hurdles for the chief minister. As of now the outcome in this constituency looks uncertain.
Of the 14 constituencies taken up today, nowhere is the confidence level of sitting MLAs higher than in Mapusa where Francis D’Souza is way ahead of the competition and in Madkai where MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar stands head and shoulders over his opponents.
In Margao, a seat that the BJP has tried to win several times, Digambar Kamat of the Congress is still a force to reckon with. Opposition candidates have fallen by the wayside in this constituency and the former chief minister could look forward to another term.
Although Independent MLA Avertano Furtado enjoys a high rating in the Navelim constituency, the presence of Luizinho Faleiro is likely to upset his plans for a second term. Furtado has decided to stand as an independent and this could be a negative factor for him.
The BJP might be in for a surprise in Pernem where Rajendra Arlekar registered a convincing win over the Congress in 2012. Five years hence, the tables are turned and the MLA could be staring at a surprise loss to the Congress.
In Panaji, where Babush Monserrate declared he would contest, the BJP MLA Siddharth Kunkalienkar enjoys an approval rating of 68 per cent and it looks like the Taleigao strongman might have to head home.
With the MGP and the BJP firing political bullets at each other, the fate of Deepak Dhavalikar in Priol hangs in the balance while Lavoo Mamledar’s defeat in Ponda is almost certain.
In Poriem, Pratapsingh Rane’s victory is assured. The former chief minister has never lost an election and he will hold on to this distinction even in 2017.
