MARGAO
The Congress under the banner of Joaquim and Yuri Alemao made swept the polls to 14-member Cuncolim Municipal Council, as the ruling BJP suffered a major jolt in its determined bid to wrest control of the civic body.
While the Congress camp emerged victorious with a clear mandate, winning in nine of the 14-wards of the B-Class Council, the BJP had to be content with just four seats, with a lone seat going to an Independent Rahul Desai.
BJP’s failure to get the mandate for its candidates assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the last-ditch efforts put in by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant along with former MP Narendra Sawaikar to woo the electorate. The defeat may come as a big setback to Cong-turned BJP Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias, who was keen in establishing his hold in the Cuncolim Municipal area ahead of the 2022 Assembly poll. Clafacio’s close supporter Jeorgina Fernandes contesting from Ward No 1 was also defeated in the election.
While Chief Minister’s brother-in-law Videsh Desai and former Chairperson Polita Carneiro retained their seats along with local party leader Vishal Desai, the remaining party-backed candidates bit the dust in the husting.
On the other hand, the victory for the Congress group is being seen as the return of former MLA Joaquim Alemao and son Yuri in Cuncolim. The Congress victory is also expected to keep Yuri Alemao in good stead in the race for the party ticket for the Cuncolim Assembly constituency. Yuri-backed candidates, who won the election includes Shetkar Gouri, Raimund D’Souza, Jamira Pires, Laximan Naik, John Dias, Rekha Rodrigues, Uddesh Naik Desai, Landry Mascarenhas and Anthony Vaz.
As the victory triggered jubilations in the Congress camp outside the counting centre, slogans rent the air in support of the Congress, Joaquim and Yuri Alemao, besides GPCC president Girish Chodankar and Opposition leader Digambar Kamat.
Though the elections were not fought on party banners, the BJP and the Joaquim-Yuri group had backed candidates of their choice in all the 14 Municipal wards.
A jubilant Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat said the people of Cuncolim have given a mandate for the development work carried out by Joaquim Alemao during his stint as Minister. While complimenting both Joaquim and Yuri, Kamat also saluted Cuncolkars for giving the mandate for the Congress by preferring the candidates backed by Joaquim and Yuri for progress and development.
When asked whether Yuri will now qualify for the Congress Assembly ticket, Kamat said “the Congress party will stand by all those who worked tireless for the party’s victory”.
Former Congress MLA Joaquim Alemao said the people of Cuncolim has given their mandate for the development he had ushered in Cuncolim 10 years ago. “I had ushered in development in Cuncolim with so many projects, which were not maintained by the successive MLAs. The people have given me the mandate to take the development forward”, he added.
