MARGAO
Even as the fate of the main contestants, Pallavi Dempo of the BJP and Congress’ Captain Viriato Fernandes stands sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the May 7 Lok Sabha poll also assumes significance for key political players and heavyweights in Salcete in more ways than one.
In fact, the Lok Sabha election will decide the fate of Congress turncoats, besides Alliance partners, Salcete’s lone Minister, Leader of Opposition along with the two contesting candidates. A report
Kamat’s dominance in his fiefdom will come to fore
The Lok Sabha election is the first election the seven-time Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has faced post-defection to the BJP on September 14, 2022. Though Kamat did not go to Madgavkars as a referendum on his defection from the Congress to the BJP in 2022, sources said the Margao MLA is eyeing for a comfortable lead for the BJP in Margao to send a message loud and clear to his opponents that the people of Margao has endorsed or ratified his defection. The results of the May 7 poll, sources said, will also give Kamat an insight into his strengths and weaknesses post-2022 defection. For, when he was contesting on the Congress banner, the minorities have been his natural allies in his battle against the saffron brigade. The Lok Sabha election will also give an insight into Kamat’s dominance in the basties and gullies in the slum areas, right from Moti Dongor to Azad Nagar, Fakir bandh to Kharebhand, which had traditionally rallied behind the Margao MLA, irrespective of his political affiliations.
Curtorim outcome and Reginaldo's IDC reward
Assembly election results, the Curtorim Independent MLA was the first MLA to extend his support to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the formation of a coalition government. He was rewarded with the Chairmanship of the prized Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in lieu of his decision to support the BJP government. Sources pointed out that the BJP bosses must have set a target for Reginaldo in minority-dominated Curtorim constituency.
On polling day, Reginaldo had told the media that the BJP leaders understand the ground reality in Curtorim, virtually conceding that it would not be possible to poll votes beyond a certain figure. In the political chess game, wherein Ministers and MLAs have worked on the ground to outwit each other in the game of one-upmanship, it remains to be seen whether the four-time MLA will continue to head the IDC post-June 4.
Sequeira's strength will be at test in Nuvem
As the Nuvem MLA led the BJP campaign in the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls, questions are asked in Nuvem countryside whether Sequeira will manage to garner at least 5,000 votes for Pallavi Dempo in the minority-dominated constituency. Political observers ruled out the possibility of the BJP taking a lead in Nuvem, but sources said the Environment Minister must have been given a brief to increase the poll percentage for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP has been struggling to even cross the 5,000-vote mark in Nuvem over the years, barring the 2014 Lok Sabha election. What would be the fate of the political heavyweight post-June 4 remains unknown, even though the Minister was clear during the Lok Sabha campaign that a big vote for the BJP will give him a boost to strengthen the hands of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Yuri’s leadership will be in question if he fails Cuncolim test
Expectations have been high in Congress circles and outside that Yuri will not only keep the party flag flying high in his home constituency Cuncolim, but help the party to score big in minority Salcete, given his status as Leader of the Opposition. Sources said Yuri and his team may receive a pat on their back if the Congress retains the South Goa seat. Expectations are high in party circles that Yuri gives a substantial lead for Captain Viriato Fernandes in Cuncolim.
No doubt, Team BJP led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai had made a strong bid to storm Yuri’s fort in Cuncolim. Sources, however, pointed out that Yuri’s leadership quality may come in for questioning if the Congress does not get a comfortable lead in Cuncolim and if the party fails to retain the South Goa seat.
AAP MLAs have a point to prove in Benaulim and Velim
The two AAP MLAs representing Benaulim and Velim respectively had extended support to the INDIA bloc candidate Viriato Fernandes in the two minority-dominated segments.
A 16,000-plus vote lead each in Benaulim and Velim is what has been expected by INDIA bloc leaders to give the much-needed push for Captain Viriato Fernandes in the scheme of things. Both Benaulim and Velim segments, however, has registered a poll percentage of less than 70 per cent.
Vijai needs slender lead in Fatorda to silence arch rivals
Even a slender lead in Fatorda is what the Goa Forward chief must be hoping in his fiefdom in the just concluded Lok Sabha election. For, MP Francisco Sardinha had got a small lead in Fatorda in the 2019 Lok Sabha election when Sardesai was part of the NDA government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Even a wafer-thin lead for the Congress, sources said, will come in handy for the three-time Fatorda MLA to silence arch rival, BJP leader Damu Naik and Congress-turned-BJP Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, who had campaigned vigorously in Fatorda in support of Pallavi Dempo.
Navelim MLA to face acid test in constituency
The just concluded Lok Sabha election has provided an opportunity for the first-time BJP Navelim MLA to send a message loud and clear that his victory in the 2022 Assembly election was not a fluke. Political observers say the Lotus had bloomed in Navelim for the first time in the 2022 Assembly election due to a vertical split in the non-BJP vote amongst five players. The first time BJP MLA had promised to garner around 10,000 votes in favour of Pallavi Dempo. Ulhas had won the Navelim seat in 2022 by polling around 5,168 votes.
