PANAJI/MANDREM
Despite seven candidates vying for Mandrem, the constituency could in reality witness a very close fight between BJP and the Congress.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s disconnect with constituents and active campaigning of Congress candidate Dayanand Sopte indicate that retaining the constituency would not be a cakewalk for Parsekar, the three-term MLA from the constituency.
With merely five days to go for the upcoming polls, The Goan visited Mandrem to gauge the mood of the people in the constituency.
While there was no clarity on who would win, a section of people was of the opinion that Sopte has an edge over Parsekar in few villages; while another section stated that he would win with a lesser margin as he was the chief minister.
“Parsekar has skipped his door-to-door campaign this time, which is an advantage for Sopte. He is still on his campaign. Secondly, the RSS has sizeable votes of about 2500, which could also make a difference,” said a person actively involved in politics.
A visit to Tiracol village revealed villagers’ resentment against the chief minister. Strongly opposing the upcoming golf course project coming up in the area, they charged the chief minister of being anti-tenant. The area, however, comprises families belonging to the minority community.
“During last elections we made sure that he got a majority right from Tiracol. And now he wants to finish all the tenants. I don’t know why he wants this golf course here. He claims that it will generate employment, but in reality we will be finished,” said a Tiracol resident.
Another resident informed that Parsekar had neither made an effort to visit them even once during the last five years, nor come for any campaign till date during the present polls.
“On Sunday, the Congress candidate met us, but the person whom we had trusted and voted for has not even bothered to come here. Forget him, but none of his party members have come for any campaign,” he said.
Further, in Keri, The Goan bumped into Congress candidate Dayanand Sopte, while he was on his campaign at Keri village. Two different groups of people affiliated to BJP and Congress were also seen readying to attend meetings of their leaders.
A chat with villagers here indicated that Sopte has an edge over Parsekar. Nonetheless, people also pointed out that they were upset with Parsekar and not against the BJP. “CM has managed to give jobs to a few people from the area. Additionally, BJP has a few supporters here. The only issue is that he is unapproachable and even if you approach him, you are greeted with arrogant attitude,” he said adding, “Sopte at least has the courtesy to respond with a positive attitude.”
Moving towards Arambol, people were vocal about government jobs and developmental works.
“Being the chief minister, he has not managed to get government jobs to people. Being the CM, he is capable of absorbing them into any of the departments. And now if he does not become the CM, he will be left with few of the departments and job quota too will be restricted,” said a young voter in Arambol.
Said an elderly person, “And it is not like he did not know that government jobs would be put on hold. He was the one who did it. He should have at least got a few youth employed. Nonetheless, he has even questioned people on why they require government jobs.”
Pointing out that minor developmental works have been taken up in the constituency, a businessman stated, “Only the Chopdem circle has been developed. That too the work of putting dividers is still on. In Arambol too the roads are being widened now. What can he boast about in Mandrem?”
On the return journey, The Goan bumped into Parsekar in Mandrem, who was actively involved in preparation for the public meeting of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Even before the meeting could begin, there was a crowd of over a thousand people and more were entering. Interestingly, more than half of the crowd were women.
