MARGAO
As the Zilla Panchayat poll sealed the fate of the candidates contesting the eight seats in minority Salcete, the Congress seemed to have had an easy going in Curtorim constituency but was locked in tough battles in the remaining seven seats.
On the other hand, the BJP, which is contesting in two seats, appears sitting pretty in Davorlim seat, where sitting ZP member Ulhas Tuemkar is seeking re-election.
The BJP seems to have made a strong comeback in Guirdolim seat.
Against the backdrop of reports that the Congress may win the Guirdolim seat hands down, the BJP through the efforts of Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar and Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias are believed to have managed to cover a lot of ground, especially in the villages of Ambaulim and Balli, more so the last-named village, a BJP stronghold, where the polling was pegged at around 3400-plus vote.
Elsewhere in Salcete, the Congress party was locked in fierce battles in Benaulim, Colva, Nuvem, Raia, and Velim either against the NCP or strong Independent candidates, known seasoned campaigners. And, Congress leaders are hoping that the silent majority of voters, forming the party core voter base, have come and cast their vote in favour of the party candidates.
In Velim constituency, Congress candidate Julio Fernandes is facing a tough battle against seasoned ZP campaigner Anthony Rodrigues. Backed by Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva, the Congress candidate, who was a novice at the time of filing nomination papers, managed to cover a lot of ground in Velim constituency.
Questions, however, are being raised whether the Congress candidate can stop Anthony from retaining his stranglehold over the Velim ZP seat. Anthony had won the seat once, while his sister in law was the outgoing ZP member.
In Guirdolim, the Congress’s calculation seems to have gone haywire after the Balli area of the constituency reported around 3400-odd vote polling. Balli is considered the stronghold of the BJP and the heavy polling in this segment has virtually forced the Congress leaders to go back to the drawing board to check the poll calculations.
Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias sounded confident of the BJP winning the Guirdolim seat despite the consolidation of votes in favour of the Congress over the contentious coal and track doubling in the areas of Chandor and Guirdolim.
Congress leader and former Paroda Sarpanch Deepak Kharangate said the polling in the areas of Chandor, Guirdolim and Paroda, besides Ambaulim, will keep the party candidate Sonia Fernandes in good stead.
For the Davorlim seat, the BJP appeared sitting pretty for the simple reason that while the party is expected to retain its vote bank intact, a split in the secular vote appears imminent with a host of candidates vying for the same space.
Sitting BJP member Ulhas Tuemkar appeared confident of making it to the Zilla Panchayat once again, as he expected the party cadre to vote for him and the opposition to split.
The Congress was also locked in a fierce battle for the Raia seat. While party candidate Joseph Vaz was expected to put up a good show in Rachol and Camurlim, Independent candidate Domnick Gaonkar had emerged in his home village Raia. Observers say the fate of the candidate may be decided by the voters from Loutolim village.
The Congress must be certainly anxious to retain its hold over the Nuvem ZP seat after party MLA Wilfred D’Sa switched sides to join the BJP a year ago. However, the Congress-turned-BJP MLA appeared confident that Independent candidate Breezy Baretto will overcome the challenge from the Congress and emerge victorious.
