THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA: For the first time after nearly a quarter of a century, Mapusa will get new face once the counting for the bypolls ends on Thursday.
The results will also decide whether BJP candidate and former local MLA’s son, Joshua D’Souza will get a change to carry forward his father’s legacy or whether Congress candidate, Sudhir Kandolkar will make history in Mapusa.
Both candidates expressed confidence of emerging victorious in Mapusa.
While Joshua was prompt to disclose his margin of victory, Kandolkar refused to put a number to his victory margin.
Joshua said he was “extremely confident” of winning the bypoll with a comfortable margin.
“We are expecting to secure 10,000 plus votes and win the by-election with a margin of 3,000 to 3,500 votes,” Joshua said exuding confidence.
Conversely, Kandolkar refused to disclose either the total votes or the margin of victory.
“Just wait and watch. We are confident of making history by winning the Mapusa seat for the Congress,” Kandolkar said.
A close associate of the Congress candidate disclosed that they expected at least 3,500 BJP votes to swing in favour of Kandolkar this time around.
He put a conservative figure of 1,500 votes as the margin of victory for the Congress candidate.
On whether the exit poll has brightened his prospects, the BJP candidate said that it has come as a big positive for the BJP.
“At the national level, yes it is a booster to all of us who are in the BJP. It gives us the confidence to be ready to serve the people and deliver what we promised to them,” D’Souza said.
Dismissing the exit poll as propaganda, Kandolkar said it was nothing but a publicity stunt by the ruling dispensation whose bubble will burst on the day of counting.
“We will get to know the exact mood of the country on May 23. Everyone, including the protagonists of the exit polls will be in for a surprise when the results are out,” he said.
The by-election for Mapusa was necessitated on account of death of former deputy chief minister and local MLA Francisco D’Souza.
Controversy marred the allocation of the BJP ticket for the Mapusa seat. Initially, senior councilor and longtime BJP karyakarta Sudhir Kandolkar was tipped to get the BJP ticket but the saffron party settled for the former MLA’s son, Joshua D’Souza.
A hurt Kandolkar wasted no time and overnight joined the rival Congress and bagged the ticket.
Carrying out a spirited campaign, both the candidates who are front runners, put their best foot forward.
Shekar Naik of the Aam Aadmi Party, Nandan Sawant (GSM), Sanjay Barde (NCP), Ashish Shirodkar (Ind) and Sudesh Hasotikar (Ind) are the other five candidates in the fray.
