the goan I network
MARGAO
Can the Congress overcome a spirited challenge by these group of independents in as many as four out of the nine Zilla Panchayat seats at stake in its stronghold Salcete?
An answer in the affirmative would imply that the Congress has won half the battle in its quest to regain power at the South Goa Zilla Panchayat. Failure to checkmate these independents would leave the main opposition party
literally struggling to reach the magic figure to form the South Goa ZP.
Independent candidates Anthony Babush Rodrigues (Velim), Cipru Cardozo (Navelim) and Domnic Gaonkar (Raia), who are grassroots leaders in their own right, along with the Nuvem ZP independent candidate Dr Breezy Barretto, have virtually come in the way of the Congress enjoying a free run in the minority-dominated constituencies in Salcete.
Apart from the Nuvem candidate Breezy, the remaining three independents are not new in their respective constituencies. Domnic Gaonkar and wife Fatima had held the Raia seat for as many as 15 long years. On the other hand, Cipru is seeking re-election from Navelim for the third time in a row, while Anthony Babush Rodrigues and sister-in-law Mancy had held the Velim seat twice since 2010.
Take note, the ruling BJP has either little or no presence in these four ZP constituencies in terms of votes, other than the fact that these ZP seats come under the Assembly constituencies of Cong-turned-BJP MLAs “ Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues and Wilfred D’Sa.
That explains why the Congress is anxious to play on the contentious issues of Citizenship Amendment Act, the saffron brigade’s bitter track record against the minorities and the desertion of the party by Filipe Neri and Wilfred in July last.
The independents seem to have risen up to the occasion to face the Congress boldly. Aware that emotive issues such as the CAA and Congress’ propaganda that they are all backed by the BJP and Cong-turned-BJP MLAs can turn the tables against them, the independents have come out in equal measure to face the challenge.
Says Anthony Babush Rodrigues: “The Congress has nothing with them to garner votes. Hence, the party is banking on the CAA. Congress leaders do not know that I had provided my fleet of buses to ferry people for the anti-CAA meetings,” he said.
Taking the battle to the Congress camp, Anthony says that his candidature enjoys the backing of the followers of all parties and leaders across the spectrum. “All these issues will not give the Congress the votes,” he said.
Navelim Independent Cipru Cardozo also echoed similar sentiments. He said the Congress has been going around the constituency, stating that he was a BJP-backed independent candidate. “I don’t think people of Navelim will fall to these cheap gimmicks. I have been representing the people of Navelim constituency twice and they know my track record,” he said while exuding confidence of retaining the seat.
Two-time Raia Zilla Panchayat member Domnic Gaonkar is also grappling with the Congress campaign that he is being backed by the BJP. “I and my wife have represented Raia for the last 15 years. People of Raia are aware of the work undertaken by me in the constituency. No amount of false propaganda painting me as a BJP candidate will be accepted by the people,” Domnic asserted.
Former Nuvem Sarpanch Dr Breezy Barretto has also come under sustained attack from the Congress that she is the BJP-backed candidate. Emotive issues including CAA and Nuvem MLA Wilfred’s decision to embrace the BJP have all come in handy to corner the independent candidate, who has asserted that she has the backing of all sections of people in the constituency.
Less than a week to go for the ZP poll, the Congress is only expected to intensify its campaign against these four independents, aware that the results in these four seats can make or break the party’s prospects of regaining control over South ZP constituency.
