MARGAO
Velim has the history of flowing against the electoral tide. When the constituency was part of the erstwhile Cuncolim constituency, people had joined hands to elect Janata Party candidate Ferdino Rebello in 1977 post-emergency.
That’s not all. People from this minority-dominated constituency, considered a Congress stronghold had on more than one occasion voted in favour of Independents Manu Fernandes (1994) and Filipe Neri Rodrigues in 2002. History repeated itself in Velim in the 2012 election when Independent Benjamin D’Silva successfully stopped Filipe Neri’s run from playing his fourth successive innings from the constituency.
Much water, however, has flown down the River Sal since the last five years. Unlike 2012, the political mood appears different. There’s no anti-Congress wave in Velim this time round that had sent three-time MLA and seasoned campaigner Filipe Neri packing home. The Congress nominee may try to capitalise on the prevailing mood, but he will have to contend with the presence of too many parties and individuals vying for the space this time round.
Sitting MLA Benjamin D’Silva is seeking re-election as an Independent again. He is facing a serious challenge to retain the seat from host of players. His opponents are trying to corner him on his “BJP" tag, but the first-time MLA counters the opposition propaganda by banking on his development work. Last time round, Benjamin had the full backing of the traditional fishermen community inhabiting the riverine villages, right from Assolna to Ambelim, Velim to Bapsora-Betul. This time, however, fears are raised in political circles that the fishermen’s vote may face a split, with friend turned foe and co-villager Cruz Silva throwing his hat in the electoral ring on the Aam Aadmi Party and Vinay Tari contesting on the BJP banner. Tari’s presence in the fray, no doubt, may come in handy for Benjamin to dilute his “BJP" tag. But, Tari is a personality well-known around the traditional fishermen cluster at Bapsora-Betul and outside, which may dent Benjamin’s vote bank in the riverine belt.
On the other hand, the Congress and party candidate Filipe Neri Rodrigues is making a determined bid to make a comeback in Velim after a gap of five years. His attempt, however, has met with a challenge from Aam Aadmi Party candidate Cruz Silva as well as Goa Forward Party nominee Anthony Rodrigues.
While the AAP nominee is banking on the majority silent vote to ride to power, Anthony has endeared himself to the common man with his down to earth approach.
While Filipe, Cruz and Anthony had started their campaign months ago, other political players who have now joined the battle include NCP nominee Fredrick Borges, Goa Su Raj Party’s Domnick Noronha, Cliffton D’Souza (Ambedkarite party), besides Independents seaman Edrich Correia, former Chinchinim sarpanch Constancio Fernandes, Jose Fernandes and well known tiatrist Wilson Mazarello.
Velim has the distinction of having the highest number of candidates in the fray, 12 to be precise. The presence of a whole lot of candidates in the fray, including as many as five Independents, has raised the specter of split and division of votes across the constituency, comprising of the villages of Velim, Ambelim, Assolna, Chinchinim, Sarzora, Dramapur-Sirlim, Dicarpale and Sao Jose de Areal.
Filipe Neri Rodrigues (Cong), Fredrick Borges (NCP), Vinay Tari (BJP), Anthony Rodrigues (GFP), Cliffton D’Souza (Ambedkarite Party), Cruz Silva (AAP), Domnick Noronha (GSRP), Benjamin D’Silva (Ind), Edrich Correia (Ind), Constancio Fernandes (Ind), Jose Fernandes (Ind), Wilson Mazarello (Ind)
