MARGAO
As curtains came down on the process of scrutiny of nomination papers, Saxtti’s career politicians, some of whom have been elected to the Legislative Assembly for as many as five and seven times, all remain in the fray, in their bid to play yet another innings in their political career.
Some of these career politicians are in their 50’s and 60’s and even early 70’s as they brace up for yet another political battle.
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat, leads the pack of career politicians, having represented Margao for the last 28 years. Closely following him is Churchill Alemao, who has made it to the Legislative Assembly five times. Dy Chief Minister, Babu Ajgaonkar, ex-Minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues, former Power Minister Aleixo Sequeira, Mickky Pacheco are the other heavyweights from Salcete who had been members of the Legislative Assembly on four occasions in their career.
Three-time Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, two-time MLAs Vijai Sardesai and Damu Naik and one-time MLAs Avertano Furtado, Benjamin D’Silva, Wilfred D’Sa are the other players from Salcete, who have been prominent faces in the Legislative Assembly in the last decade and half.
Former Cuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao has finally called it a day in politics as he has handed over the baton to son Yuri, who is contesting the ensuing poll on the Congress banner. Seven-time Congress veteran Luizinho Faleiro is also not in the fray in the February 14 polls after he got elected as the Rajya Sabha MP of the Trinamool Congress.
Kamat-Ajgaonkar tussle in Margao
Sixty-seven-year old, Opposition leader Digambar Kamat had first won from Margao in 1994 on the BJP banner. Since then, there’s been no looking back for the Opposition leader, who is now seeking re-election for a record eight time in a row.
Kamat is being challenged by another old timer and a career politician, BJP’s 67-year old Manohar Ajgaonkar. Ajgaonkar had made it to the Legislative Assembly on as many as four occasions from the reserved constituency of Dhargal/Pernem. He is contesting from Margao for the second time in his political career.
Churchill eyeing last innings in Benaulim?
Five-time MLA Churchill Alemao had first made it to the Assembly in 1989. Since then, he had won the election on five occasions and lost twice from Benaulim in 2002 and Navelim in 2012. The 72-year old Churchill has already announced his plans to retire from politics after the 2022 election.
Filipe Nery, Benjamin fight for another term in Velim
Fifty-nine-year old ex-Minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues has thrown his hat in the election ring once again, to play his fifth political innings from Velim constituency. The four-time Velim MLA Filipe Nery is seeking another term in the Legislative Assembly, but is being challenged by bete noire, former Independent MLA Benjamin D’Silva. Fifty-five-year old Benjamin is seeking to play his second innings from Velim. He had contested from Velim as many as four times in his career spanning a decade and half.
Contest between Vijai & Damu in Fatorda
Both sitting MLA Vijai Sardesai and arch rival, BJP’s Damu Naik has represented Fatorda constituency twice in their political careers, spanning close to two decades. The duo, who are in their early 50’s, will be crossing swords with each other for the fourth time in the last decade and half.
Three-way contest between Aleixo, Wilfred and Mickky in Nuvem
Sixty-four year old Aleixo Sequeira is seeking re-election from Nuvem for the fifth time in his political career spanning close to three decades. He had represented the people of Loutolim/Nuvem constituency on four occasions since 1994, before he got defeated in the 2012 polls.
Flamboyant Mickky Pacheco, aged 57 years, had made it to the Legislative Assembly on four occasions, including the 2005 by-poll. He has represented both the Benaulim and Nuvem constituencies in his career spanning two decades.
First-time MLA Wilfred D’Sa is seeking re-election from Nuvem, this time as an Independent.
Fifty-two-year old Reginaldo Lourenco is back in the fray for the Curtorim seat, this time as an independent. The three-time Curtorim MLA, had started his political career on the Save Goa Front party in 2007, before the party was merged into the Congress the same year. The ex-Congress MLA is seeking re-election from Curtorim for the fourth consecutive term in his career spanning a decade and half.
Yuri-Clafacio clash for Cuncolim seat
Former Minister and two-time MLA Joaquim Alemao is not in the fray for the Cuncolim seat, after having contested the election from the constituency on four occasions. He, however, has handed over the baton to son Yuri, who is contesting the ensuing polls on the Congress banner and is crossing swords against one-time Congress-turned-BJP MLA Clafacio Dias.
Avertano seeking re-election in Navelim
Veteran politician, Luizinho Faleiro is not in the fray for the Navelim seat. Barring the 2007 election, when he had suffered his first electoral defeat from the constituency and in 2012, when he did not contest the election, Faleiro had held the Navelim seat since 1980 till recently, when he had quit to join the Trinamool Congress. First time MLA Avertano Furtado is seeking re-election from Navelim to play his second innings from the constituency.
