MARGAO
Even as Saxttikars sealed the fate of the contesting candidates in Salcete, where as many as eight Assembly seats are at stake, no political party and the candidates were willing to concede defeats, with key players exuding confidence of winning the election.
While many pointed out that the Congress may sail through in Margao, wherein opposition leader Digambar Kamat is seeking re-election for the eight-time in a row, besides Cuncolim and Nuvem, one will have to wait and see how the party overcomes the challenge from other players, including the Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, BJP, besides NCP and an independent in the remaining four seats.
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat was confidence personified when he descended on the migrant-inhabited Moti Dongor, not only claiming his victory, but victory for the party elsewhere in the state. On the other hand, Kamat’s challenger, Deputy CM Manohar Ajgaonkar was seen directing his ire at the Opposition leader over his presence at Moti Dongor, indicating that the BJP may struggle to penetrate deep into the migrant-inhabitant basti.
Both the Goa Forward and the BJP were not ready to concede defeats for the Fatorda seat, with sitting MLA Vijai Sardesai and challenger Damu Naik claiming victories.
The Congress camp in Cuncolim appeared upbeat that party candidate Yuri Alemao will have a smooth sailing. Former Congress MLA Joaquim Alemao claimed that Cong-turned-BJP sitting MLA Clafacio Dias will not be able to contain the Congress surge in Cuncolim in this election.
Observers, however, sounded a note of caution that the BJP may bounce back in the reckoning in the event TMC candidate, Dr Jorson Fernandes makes deep inroads in the constituency.
The Trinamool Congress candidates in Benaulim and Navelim comprising the father-daughter duo of Churchill and Valanka Alemao leading the party’s battle. In Benaulim, Churchill and his Aam Aadmi Party challenger Venzy Viegas were not ready to concede defeats, claiming polling will ensure their victory in the election.
Political observers in Navelim constituency maintained that TMC candidate Valanka may face a challenge from BJP nominee Ulhas Tuemkar. While the TMC candidate had done a lot of groundwork in the constituency, observers say the BJP is back in the reckoning for the seat in view of a likely split in the non-BJP vote amongst the players, including the TMC, Congress, AAP and the NCP.
In fact, candidates fielded by the Congress, AAP, NCP and an independent had all come together just before polling ended on Monday evening to direct their ire at the TMC candidate for using all means to win the seat.
Congress leaders will be certainly banking on the remaining two seats of Curtorim and Velim to give the party candidates the much-needed victory to increase the tally of seats in the Assembly.
Sources, however, say that Independent candidate, Reginaldo Lourenco, is reportedly back in contention for the seat. The question that remains unanswered is whether the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party will succeed in stopping the former three-time MLA from playing his fourth consecutive innings from Curtorim.
In Velim too, former minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues contesting on the NCP banner, besides Congress nominee Savio D’Silva, TMC’s Benjamin D’Silva and AAP candidate Cruz Silva are in contention for the seat, which has been a Congress stronghold over the years.
