MARGAO
Heavyweights and seasoned campaigners lent a helping hand to their spouses on Wednesday as they hit the ground on polling day in support of their wives in the fray for the panchayat polls.
If former Minister Mickky Pacheco worked in support of wife Viola, ex-Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa was seen near a polling booth with wife Freda who is in the fray.
At Benaulim, outgoing Benaulim panch member Xavier Pereira, who has been elected unopposed in the election, was seen around in support of wife Diella contesting from the Mazilwaddo ward.
Mickky said wife Viola had received strong support from the people before she decided to throw her hat in the election ring. Saying he has not fielded any panel, Mickky said, “Election panels are fielded by people with vested interests, who are involved in illegalities and seek patronage of the panchayat to cover up their misdeeds,” even as he exuded confidence that wife Viola would win the polls.
Viola expressed her satisfaction that people have extended their wholehearted support to her candidature. Promising to take up the work of the people, Viola said she would not impose her views on the people, but would work to implement the suggestions of her voters.
On the other hand, ex-Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa said Guirim ward has been their stronghold over the years. Saying that wife Freda is not new to panchayat politics, Wilfred sounded confident of the people of Guirim giving a huge margin of victory for his wife.
Wilfred further said that he has not fielded any panel of candidates, but has extended support to his supporters in the fray. “In wards where there are more than 2-3 supporters in the fray, we decided not to interfere since the workers also have the right to contest the local elections,” he added.
Freda said she had been in the Nuvem panchayat even before Wilfred became a MLA. “The people of Guirim are with me. I have received positive support from my people.”
At Varca, former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao descended at the polling booth and was spotted greeting daughter Sharon, who threw her hat in the ring.
While Churchill said he has not even campaigned for his daughter, Sharon told the media she has received encouraging responses from the people of her ward. “All the voters who have cast the vote till noon have come out to support me. People will see the development once I win the election. I believe in action and not in words,” she asserted.
