PANAJI
As part of the Babush-packed panel for the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) elections, Fernandes who is a sitting councilor of Ward 3, that forms a part of Caranzalem, is out to get her neighbors out of their houses on March 6 when the city goes to vote.
Her main focus these days is on promoting her symbol, the airplane, that was assigned to her only a couple of days ago. As she walks through her ward with an army of supporters, including a three year old, she greets each one with their names and smiles as she says, “I’ve got the airplane!”
Most in the ward joke replying, “Great, now you can send me to London.” But Fernandes is keen on using every one of her votes to retain her position in the council.
Many tell her problems they face, which include bad roads and clogged drainages. The unfinished Miramar- Donapaula road is another worry that Fernandes tries her best to deal with.
“At the CCP council meetings, we were never told of the work that was going to be undertaken on that road. Had I known, I would have strongly objected,” she said.
Despite that however, many still show loyalty to her. “Our blessings are always with you wherever you go. You know that I will vote for you,” said one senior citizen to Fernandes as she accepted a pamphlet with a picture of Fernandes and Babush and a black and white image of an airplane.
Fernandes undertakes her campaign trail every evening, beginning around 6 pm and winds up past 8 pm.
Most people take part in church activities or as on Thursday, the way of the cross, or are either working.
“I prefer working in the evening or mostly on Sundays because that’s when I get most of the family at home,” she said.
As days for the voting day nears, she plans to begin early in the day and finish late at night, but she is confident to return and finish what she aimed for her ward. Most voters seem happy with her work as she even goes to the opposition with her pamphlets, promoting healthy competition, she says.
As for the voters themselves, the unfinished Miramar- Dona Paula road is a major worry as inner roads are almost always flooded with cars, thus generating dust.
This they say is what they would want sorted out at the earliest. Fernandes on the other hand, continues distributing her pamphlets saying, “Vote for the airplane.”
