MAPUSA
This election was the best opportunity for Congress to hoist its flag in Mapusa but the party failed to capitalize on the possibilities offered on a platter.
The BJP contradicted all public perceptions including their own analysis, outperforming the Congress in most of the polling stations in the constituency.
Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza led in maximum polling stations but the five wards of Khorlim once again stood solidly behind the BJP.
Such was the stranglehold of the BJP that Joshua D’Souza led in 31 out of the total 42 polling stations while Sudhir Kandolkar of Congress could manage to get a lead in just 11.
BJP led in all the 11 polling stations in the five wards of Khorlim which also includes the slum areas of Ghanganagar, Samathanagar and Gatheshwarnagar.
The BJP MLA got a massive lead of over 1000 votes in the Khorlim segment practically sealing the fate of the Congress candidate.
Conversely, Sudhir Kandolkar could manage to get a significant lead of around 470 votes in only two polling stations of ward 19 in Morod. Kandolkar has been getting elected as a councillor from ward 19 for the last more than two decades.
Kandolkar also got a lead in the two polling stations of ward 20 at Gaunsavaddo which traditionally votes for Congress. However, the lead this time was slender as the candidates of AAP, RGP and TMC picked up quite a number of votes in Gaunsavaddo.
Interestingly, even the councillors backing the Congress candidate failed to give him lead in some of the polling stations in their wards.
According to former chairperson Sandip Falari, Khorlim traditionally voted for BJP just like the voters of Gaunsavaddo preferred Congress.
“It’s not surprising because even in the 2019 by-election BJP got lead in all the five wards in Khorlim. In fact, this time the BJP has led in almost all the polling stations in Mapusa. But Khorlim continues to be the bedrock of the BJP,” Falari opined.
He, however, hesitated to comment whether it was the migrant votes in the area that made the difference in the final analysis.
A resident of Mapusa and a keen political observer, Ratnpal Salkar said the presence of new parties TMC and RGP spoiled the chances of the Congress candidate in Mapusa.
“The TMC and RGP polled a significant number of votes that has damaged the Congress. AAP was present in the previous election and there both the national parties were aware of its capacity. No one knew how much impact the TMC and RGP would do and to whom,” Salkar argued.
