the goan I network
MARGAO
Denied the ticket by the Congress leaders under controversial circumstances, Congress heavyweight and four-time MLA Aleixo Sequeira had announced retirement from politics. Aleixo says he did not direct or guide his supporters to vote in a particular direction or for a particular candidate after he opted for retirement from politics.
The Aleixo factor, however, is indeed a subject of debate in Nuvem political circles where the three main players, Wilfred, Vincent and Mickky, claim victories in the election. Of the three main contenders, Vincent makes no means of the fact, claiming that he has benefitted from the Aleixo factor, saying that most of the supporters of the former Power minister had worked for him. And, the NCP candidate claimed that the election result will prove wrong the poll pundits who had written him off in their analysis in the run-up to the election and post February 4.
On the other hand, Congress candidate Wilfred D’Sa has been frank in admitting that the Aleixo factor has not benefitted him in any way. On the contrary, the Congress candidate asserted that the Aleixo factor has gone against him in certain parts of the constituency, which may affect him by a few votes. He, however, hastened to add that the Aleixo factor will not stop him from winning the Nuvem seat, though the factor may marginally affect him by a few hundred votes, around 500-800 in some pockets.
Sitting MLA and Goa Su Raj Party nominee Mickky Pacheco says the Aleixo factor may have worked in its own way in Nuvem in the February 4 election, but he was quick to point out that he had relied on the Mickky factor to keep him in good stead. “Though people of the constituency talk about the Aleixo factor, I went to the poll on my own agenda and with the blessings of the people. I did not bank on this or that factor. As a sitting MLA, I am confident that I will retain the seat, but with a reduced margin,” Mickky admitted.
Mickky had stopped Aleixo Sequeira’s free run in Nuvem by defeating the former Power minister by a convincing margin of 4,196 votes in the 2012 election when he had polled 12,288 votes as against 8,092 votes polled by Aleixo. Even in a worst scenario, Mickky says he should romp home with a reduced margin in the region of 2,500-2,800 in the four-cornered battle.
On the other hand, Congress candidate Wilfred is banking heavily on his home village of Nuvem and Verna-Nagoa belt to keep him in good stead. A two-time Zilla Panchayat member representing Nuvem constituency comprising of Nuvem, Verna and Nagoa, Wilfred is confident that these villages along with other segments will turn the tide in his favour.
Says Aleixo Sequeira: “I do not know whether the Aleixo factor has played any role in Nuvem because I did not direct any of my supporters to support a particular candidate in the fray. I have no idea which supporters have worked for which candidates in the election.”
Around 21,274 voters have cast their vote in the February 4 election, of which Nuvem registered a voter turn out of 5,597 votes, followed by Majorda-Utorda-Calata 4,129 votes and Betalbatim 2,158 votes.
