PANAJI
Wives appear to have displaced sons in Goa's election games ahead of the February 14 assembly polls, as dynasty politics which was jolted out of the State's political ecosystem somewhat in 2012, rears its head once again in 2022.
Five couples (effectively means 10 seats) have covered nearly a quarter of the State's assembly seats which are up for grabs, even as several unfortunate sons appear to have lost out in Goa's latest tryst with dynasty politics.
The BJP leads the 'couple race' with Vishwajit and Divya Rane from Valpoi and Poriem respectively, while the party has also nominated the Monserrates, Atanasio and Jennifer, as candidates from Panaji and Taleigao.
The BJP however appears to have driven a wedge between the Kavlekars, with deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar managing to secure a BJP ticket, while his wife Savitri was not so lucky, having to contest as an independent candidate from the neighbouring constituency of Sanguem.
The Congress and the Trinamool Congress have fielded a couple each. Michael Lobo and Delilah Lobo from the Calangute and Siolim assembly constituencies are the Congress couple in the fray, while the TMC's marital pair Kiran Kandolkar and his wife Kavita are contesting from the Aldona and Thivim assembly constituencies.
Sons haven't been this lucky however.
Barring Mapusa candidate and sitting MLA Joshua D'Souza, who is the son of former deputy Chief Minister late Francis D'Souza, former CM late Parrikar's son Utpal and Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik's son Siddesh have failed to secure BJP tickets.
Utpal has now dared the party by filing his nomination as an independent candidate, while Siddesh who tried to rebel has been 'rewarded' with the post of a Secretary in the party's State unit as a compromise.
After their stunning debacle in the 2012 elections, the Alemao clan is now looking to make a comeback in the 2022 polls, riding two political parties.
The Trinamool Congress has fielded the father-daughter duo of Churchill and Valanka from the Benaulim and Navelim assembly constituencies respectively, while Yuri Alemao, son for former Minister Joaquim Alemao and Churchill's nephew has been fielded by the Congress party from the Cuncolim assembly constituency.
The Dhavalikar brothers have also entered the contest once again, contesting from Marcaim (Sudin) and Priol (Deepak) assembly constituencies respectively.
Sattari represents the pinnacle of dynasty politics this time round. Goa has been used to the Ranes, Pratapsingh and Vishwajit, contesting from the Poriem and Valpoi assembly constituencies, for some time now.
But in these upcoming elections, another member of the Rane clan, Ranjit Rane, son of former MLA Jaysingrao Rane has been added to the dynasty mix, in addition to Vishwajit's wife Divya.
Divya is all set to take on Ranjit Rane in the contest for the Poriem assembly seat, with Pratapsing Rane riding off into the political sunset.
