MARGAO
While Benaulikars have sealed the fate of the four contesting candidates in the ballot boxes on Sunday, the future of the key players supporting the candidates hangs in balance as all eyes are focused on counting on votes scheduled on Monday morning.
In fact, the election results on Monday will show the preference of the voters as far as the political players, who had all rallied behind the contesting candidates.
The Benaulim ZP by-poll has been seen as an acid test for the Aam Aadmi Party Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, who had gone to the people for the first time after his election in the 2022 Assembly poll.
The INDI Alliance, which had extended its support to the AAP candidate Joseph Pimenta in the by-poll, is also facing a testing time since this is the first election the bloc is fighting post-June 4 Lok Sabha results.
The election will also reveal how the voters have reacted to the appeal made by former MLA Churchill Alemao in support of Independent candidate Grrayfans Fernandes. Churchill along with son Savio had rallied behind Grrayfans in the ZP by-poll apparently as part of the strategy to stop the AAP march in Benaulim.
The fate of Churchill’s nephew, Warren Alemao, who had backed Congress-turned-Independent candidate Royla Fernandes in the by-poll, will also be decided on Monday. Warren had been preparing the ground in Benaulim over the last many months to throw his hat in the Benaulim Assembly election ring in the 2027 election.
Besides, the fate of the village satraps, who had extended their support to the candidates of their choice will also be known on Monday when the ballot boxes are opened for counting.
