MARGAO
With the grand mahagathbandhan eluding the like-minded opposition parties, Salcete appears heading for multi-cornered contests in almost all the eight seats at stake in the minority stronghold as the battle lines are getting drawn ahead of the February 14 polls.
As the key players, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, TMC, BJP and not to mention Revolutionary Goans Party, are all bracing up to unveil the final list of candidates, it’s now apparent that multi-cornered contests are on the anvil in the crucial taluka, which no political party can afford to ignore with eight out of the 40 seats at stake.
As expected, the Congress will contest in all eight seats in Salcete, barring Fatorda, which the main opposition party has conceded to the Goa Forward Party. The Congress has already announced candidates in the three constituencies of Margao, Navelim and Cuncolim having nominated opposition leader Digambar Kamat, former minister Avertano Furtado and youth leader Yuri Alemao, respectively.
While the main opposition party will cross swords with arch political rival BJP in the constituencies of Margao and Cuncolim, Congress will have to grapple with like-minded anti-BJP parties, AAP, TMC and debutant Revolutionary Goans Party in almost the remaining seats.
The AAP, which has put up an impressive show in its debut in 2017 by making significant inroads in the constituencies of Benaulim, Velim, Nuvem, Curtorim and Cuncolim, appears ready for an all-out battle. Having shortlisted the candidates ahead of other parties, AAP has already declared candidates in Benaulim, Velim, Cuncolim, Navelim and Curtorim, besides Fatorda. In fact, the party has kicked off its campaign in these constituencies, with the candidates moving around door-to-door to drum up support for their candidature.
The TMC, though making a late entry, has covered much ground in the taluka so far. The party has roped in its senior political leaders, including MP Luizinho Faleiro, MLA Churchill Alemao and three-time Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco. The party has managed to get a couple of professionals as well, including Dr Jorson Fernandes in Cuncolim and Adv Antonio Clovis Costa in Velim to keep the party in good stead in the ensuing battle.
In a bid to storm Margao, the stronghold of Opposition leader Digambar Kamat, TMC has roped in two Margao municipal councillors -- former chairperson Ghanashyam Shirodkar and Mahesh Amonkar -- besides former chairperson Johnson Fernandes in the party fold.
Revolutionary Goans Party, which had made its presence felt in Salcete countryside over the last two years, has also announced its candidates for the seats in Salcete.
The ruling BJP, which does not have much presence in the Salcete countryside, is bracing up to announce its candidates for Margao, Fatorda, Cuncolim, besides Curtorim and Navelim. While the lotus had bloomed in Margao, Fatorda and Cuncolim in the past, the BJP is fielding candidates in Navelim this time round as leaders do not rule out an outside chance for the party in the event of a vertical divide in the secular vote.
Similarly, with like-minded parties, Congress, AAP and TMC expected to be locked in a fierce battle for Curtorim, BJP is expected to go all to capitalize on a likely division of the secular vote.
Eyes on Congress, TMC as parties likely to unveil list
MARGAO:
All eyes are focused on Congress and TMC in Salcete as the two parties are expected to unveil their candidates for the ensuing polls.
While the Congress has announced candidates in the seats of Margao, Navelim and Cuncolim, the TMC is yet to officially declare any candidate for the eight seats at stake in the minority stronghold.
Political observers are keenly watching the situation as the two parties are expected to finally announce their list of candidates for Salcete. For, while a rebellion in Congress is not ruled out in a couple of seats, TMC has also come into focus for the simple reason that more than one candidate has hit the campaign for the party in a couple of seats, including Benaulim, Margao and Fatorda.
How the Congress will grapple with the emerging situation remains to be seen, especially in the constituencies of Velim, Nuvem, Benaulim and Curtorim, where more than one candidate is locked in a fierce battle for the party ticked.
