the goan I network
MARGAO
Come elections, and candidates returning back to their original place of residence and close family members lending them a helping
hand in their campaign is not uncommon in Salcete’s countryside.
With the April 23 election for the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency just around a fortnight away, major contestants in the fray are leaving nothing to chance. Three-time former MP Francisco Sardinha, who resides in Dona Paula, has returned back to his Curtorim residence ahead of the battle. Instead of travelling to and fro every day, Sardinha is camping at his residence and is expected to put up at his native village till the elections.
Sources say the former MP used to make his presence felt at Curtorim only during the weekends.
His Aam Aadmi Party rival Elvis Gomes is no different. It’s now nearly two months since Elvis has been putting up on a regular basis at his native place at Panzorconne-Cuncolim ever since the AAP South Goa unit recommended his name as the party’s South Goa candidate.
Since then, Elvis stopped staying in Panaji, and has been available to his supporters and well wishers at his Panzorcone residence. “It’s now two months since I am putting up at Panzorconne-Cuncolim. It helps save a lot of time on travelling,” Elvis said.
BJP candidate and sitting MP Narendra Sawaikar, resident of Ponda, prefers to travel from Ponda to
various parts of the constituency as he makes it a point to return home every night. Sawaikar, however, said that he may go in for a makeshift residence in Margao in the near future as the campaign picks up momentum and he may have to start early and end the campaign late nights.
Family members of the candidates have also joined them, lending their support in their ongoing campaign. Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha’s family has all come home to Curtorim along with him. While Son Shallom was seen around with Congress supporters when Sardinha had gone to file his nomination papers, younger son, who is practicing law in Delhi, was spotted in the office of the South Goa Returning Officer, to ensure that everything passed off without any problems at the time of scrutiny.
Sources in the know said the family members of sitting MP Narendra Sawaikar, including wife and daughter, had all joined him when he had come to file his nomination papers. As far as AAP candidate Elvis Gomes is concerned, sources said his close family members back in Panzorconne have all rallied behind him as he has kicked off his campaign for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat.
