MARGAO
Minority Salcete witnessed yet another political churning following former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao’s grand entry into the Trinamool Congress, overnight catapulting the Mamata Didi-led party to the centrestage in Salcete politics, pitting the new entrant against the Congress in the minority stronghold.
Political observers say the TMC has emerged as a strong contender in the two seats of Navelim and Benaulim at least for the moment, with the coming together of Rajya Sabha MP Luizinho Faleiro and Churchill in the Mamata Didi-led party. While Churchill is expected to defend his fort in Benaulim, which has seen the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) in recent weeks and months, the Luizinho-Churchill duo, observers say, will be a force to reckon with in Navelim.
Observers say the duo has their respective areas of influence in Navelim. Both enjoy sizable influence amongst the minority Muslim community, whose votes are believed to have touched the 6,000-mark in Navelim.
Sources say the TMC, however, isn’t going to be content with only Navelim and Benaulim. The party has already made its presence felt in Cuncolim and Velim, though in a small way. And, the party is keeping its cards close to its chest in respect of the remaining seats of Margao, Curtorim, Nuvem and Fatorda.
In Fatorda, the party seemed to have once again made overtures to Goa Forward chief to join the front a la MGP.
Political observers say the TMC ought to be watched closely in minority Salcete as any serious inroads into the taluka may cost the Congress dearly, which in the ultimate analysis affect the Congress’ overall tally in the Legislative Assembly after the polls.
How the Luizinho-Churchill duo take the party forward in the remaining six seats across Salcete remains to be seen. Sources said the TMC is closely watching the developments in the Congress, with the party yet to declare candidates at least two seats, including Velim and Nuvem, where a host of aspirants are in the race for the prized ticket.
With seat-sharing still undecided with Cong, Goa Forward says keeping all options open
MARGAO: Is the Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai weighing other options in the event the Congress does not want to concede enough seats for the regional party?
Sources say that TMC poll managers are believed to have established contact with the Goa Forward chief and believed to have had a meeting with Sardesai. The meeting assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the Congress-Goa Forward alliance talks have not moved forward since Congress national leader Rahul Gandhi joined hands with the Goa Forward chief in Delhi a fortnight ago.
It further assumes significance when Sardesai on Monday told the media that since the Goa Forward party is a regional party, the party is keeping all options open.
Sources said the Congress may be inclined to concede just three seats of Fatorda, Mayem and Mandrem to the Goa Forward party. But, the regional party has already opened its office at San Andre, only throwing up the question how far party chief Vijai Sardesai is ready to strike a compromise deal with the Congress.
Sources say the Goa Forward may not pose a threat to the Congress in Salcete, where the regional party has zeroed in on the lone seat of Fatorda. The regional party, however, may field a couple of seats not just in San Andre, but in Ponda and Canacona. In Ponda, the party had shortlisted Ponda municipal councillor Venkatesh Naik alias Dada with an eye on the strong 13,000-odd Bhandari vote.
In Canacona, Goa Forward fiery leader Prashant Naik has already kicked-off his campaign for the coming election.
“I have been telling the Congress leaders that elections are in February 2022. There is a level for susegad. People are watching as to who is holding hands and later talking in different terms. We are a regional party, an independent party. All our options are open,” Sardesai said.
