MARGAO
The BJP won the Guirdolim seat, the epicentre of the agitation against track-doubling and coal transportation, virtually derailing Congress’ plans to capitalize on the burning issues and ride to the South Goa Zilla Panchayat in the elections.
Congress-turned-BJP MLA Clafacio Dias was quick to say that the BJP has won the Guirdolim seat even though coal and track-doubling were hot issues in the villages. He, however, exuded confidence that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will reduce coal handling at the MPT by 50 per cent.
“People of Guirdolim constituency have reposed faith in me and the Chief Minister by electing the BJP candidate. The CM has already assured to reduce coal handling by 50 per cent. We would have won the seat by a huge margin if the elections were held on March 22 as the burning issues came to the fore only two months ago,” Clafacio said after party candidate Sanjana Velip won the seat by a margin of 593 votes.
In the triangular contest,Velip polled 4690 votes against 4097 votes polled by Congress’ Sonia Fernandes. AAP candidate Rodolfina Vaz polled 996 votes.
Thought the BJP tried to dish out an impression that the party has won the Guirdolim seat despite the ongoing agitation against track-doubling and coal transportation, a glance at the election result would show that the ruling party has romped home to victory, mostly with the unassailable lead its candidate got in the Balli area of the constituency, which is being represented by Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar.
Congress leader Deepak Kharangate informed that of the 3400 votes polled in the Balli wards, the BJP garnered around 2500 votes, leaving only 800 votes for the Congress, which in the ultimate analysis proved costly for the party.
That’s not all. Though the Congress led over the BJP in the villages of Chandor and Guirdolim, party leaders pointed out that a slightly higher turn-out in these twin villages would have helped to checkmate and keep the BJP at bay.
