VASCO
Elections rarely come cheap for candidates and considerable amounts are usually spent to sponsor events to entice supporters and woo potential voters.
But with major religious festivals over the next few days and the rescheduled Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) elections to follow soon, aspiring candidates in the port town will now have the additional burden to “satisfy” supporters from different communities and various groups celebrating the festivals.
Many aspirants had been busy meeting supporters with assurances of development, but in the last few days these activities have dropped considerably and some of them have stopped personal interactions with supporters and voters.
“This sudden halt in personal interaction with supporters and voters is most likely to avoid being under pressure to sponsor some event or the other on account of religious festivals beginning with Holi on Monday and other festivals following soon. Then, there is Ambedkar Jayanti where social, cultural and sports events are held. All these events add to the financial burden of aspiring candidates,” said a source.
“This sudden halt in personal interaction with supporters and voters is most likely to avoid being under pressure to sponsor some event or the other on account of religious festivals. All these events add to the financial burden of aspiring candidates,” said a source.
Incidentally, though the State government announced restrictions in public celebrations of festivals on account of rising Covid cases, different communities of voters and various social, cultural and sports groups are present in all wards and cannot be neglected during festivals, especially during elections.
“While every ward may have around 4-5 groups, many aspiring candidates are keen to woo these groups with sponsors, which include goodies, cash, alcohol and food.”
Sources added that some aspirants have even sponsored cases of beers, food, while others have offered cash and some have even identified bars for their voters where the bills on festivals days will be settled by the aspiring candidates.
“Groups are eager to benefit from every aspiring candidate and on the other hand, some aspirants are also competing with their rivals to offer maximum “benefits” in the ward,” said a source.
Many aspiring candidates have admitted they are expected to spend significantly more on account of the major festivals over the next few days.
“If the MMC elections were held on March 20, as with many other civic bodies in the State, these additional expenses to woo voters in all possible ways would not have been a part of our canvassing strategy,” acknowledged an aspiring candidate.
Whether the celebrations are big or small, the delayed municipal polls have ensured a boom in business for bars, restaurants and wine shops in the port town during these festivals.
