GUILHERME ALMEIDA
MARGAO
Will Congress’ trump card “ the Citizens Amendment Act (CAA) issue -- on which the main opposition party hopes to channelize votes in support of the party candidates in minority Salcete and outside, manage to get votes for the party in Muslim-dominated Davorlim.
Here, the Congress candidate and a party rebel are expected to fight for the same space on the contentious CAA issue, throwing up the million-dollar question whether it will benefit the Congress or dent the party’s traditional vote bank in Davorlim.
The Congress, which has fielded K Murtuza on the party banner may realize that prominent leaders of the anti-CAA agitation in Goa are backing Congress rebel, Shaikh Abdul Kadir, who has thrown his hat in the ring as independent after the party cold-shouldered his claim for the ticket.
Both Congress candidate Murtuza and the Kadir are expected to fight for the same space amongst the Muslim electorate and other secular voters in Davorlim, where BJP sitting candidate Ulhas Tuemkar is going all out to retain the seat in the coming election.
How the Congress leaders, including Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro, Congress leader Urfan Mulla and others play their role in channelizing the Muslim and other secular votes remain to be seen.
In fact, the Congress camp and supporters of the Independent candidate are laying great stress on why people should vote for their respective candidates on the CAA issue.
A popular figure of the ongoing anti-CAA agitation Shaikh Muzzawar and other anti-CAA leaders have thrown their weight behind Kadir.
“The Congress cannot lay its claim for the anti-CAA votes in the Zilla Panchayat election. The main opposition party had been found wanting in playing its role as the main opposition party inside and outside Parliament in opposing the CAA,” Muzzawar said.
Conceding that the Congress and Independent candidate will be fighting on the issue, the fiery anti-CAA speaker, however, said that they will create awareness amongst the secular
voters on their role in the agitation and the lip service paid by the Congress party.
Congress spokesman Urfan Mullha, however, has begged to differ. “No one can deny the role played by the Congress in Parliament and across the country to oppose CAA. The Congress has a vision. Our candidate Murtuza is a popular figure and his candidature is being supported by all the communities,” he stated.
Though attempts will be made in certain quarters to split the secular vote, we are confident that the electorate will not fall prey to such machinations, Urfan added.
Navelim Congress MLA Luizinho Faleiro seemed to be aware how the CAA issue threatens to divide the secular vote in Davorlim. “I can only say the BJP has fielded several candidates with the avowed objective of splitting the secular vote. But, I am confident that people of Davorlim
will not be fooled by these tactics.”
