Usgao: Jewel in Valpoi constituency’s political crown

PONDA
With nearly 40 per cent of diverse voters from Valpoi constituency concentrated in one centrally located village panchayat alone, it is not difficult to ascertain the political, geographic and demographic importance of Usgao for the forthcoming Valpoi by-poll.
Control over the strategic region of Usgao, which includes Tisk and Gangem, is crucial as the area accounts for 11,000 of the 28,000-odd voters from Valpoi constituency, a factor that could decide the fate of two arch-rivals, Roy Naik (Congress) and Vishwajeet Rane (BJP).
What makes the battle for Usgao intense and fierce is that while Rane has already made inroads in the area, Naik believes Usgao is his bastion, given the influence that his father, former chief minister and Ponda MLA Ravi Naik has had in the area for decades.
POPULACE
The diversity of voters in Usgao region has added to the complexity in the by-polls. While rival camps don't have exact figures, estimates suggest that 80% of voters are Hindus, followed by Christians (15%) and Muslims (5%). The Bhandari Samaj accounts for about 6000-7000 voters, while the ST community has about 1500 voters. A sizeable number of voters comprise of new settlers from the migrant community, who have made Usgao their home, giving them a significant role in the electoral process.
POLITICS
Under normal circumstances, supporters of BJP and its coalition partner, MGP, should have been supporting Vishwajeet Rane in Usgao area. But his sudden departure from Congress and entry into the BJP has changed political equations and has left many BJP and MGP supporters disgruntled, though very few are willing to come out in the open.
"There is uncertainty among BJP workers whether or not to support their new leader (Rane), as he used to constantly criticise and taunt BJP leaders and their supporters, while he was with the Congress," said a source from Usgao.
And the Congress is quick to seize on this opportunity.
POSITIONS
"Unhappy with Rane, BJP workers will definitely vote against him and those votes will be for the Congress.
Secondly, Ravi Naik has a very strong hold in Usgao area and that will give Roy Naik a huge lead in the panchayat," said a confident Congress block president Ashish Kanekar.
However, Valpoi BJP Block President Sakharam Gaonkar disagreed and was equally confident that their candidate would win in Usgao without any problem.
Asked if BJPs workers in the area had suddenly forgiven and forgotten Rane's outburst against the BJP not so long ago, Gaonkar replied: "They are bound to respect the party's decision. All supporters will work for the party and hence, Rane will get support in Usgao."
PROPAGANDA
Such has been the determination to win over voters in Usgao, that both candidates have been actively campaigning in the area.
While Rane has focussed on door-to-door visits in Usgao, Roy Naik and his father Ravi have concentrated on their traditional vote bank.
Ravi Naik claims credit for development works in Usgao during his campaign meetings, while Rane believes that his performance in Valpoi constituency and his control of the Usgao-Gangem panchayat will persuade voters.
However, not all panchas are openly campaigning for Rane and one panch has, in fact, openly campaigned for Roy Naik.
PLACEMENT
Geography has also played a role in ascertaining the influence of centrally located and a rapidly growing Usgao panchayat. It is the only village panchayat of the northern Valpoi constituency located in South Goa, but Usgao's involvement in the Valpoi by-poll has had an immediate impact on the entire south district.
The Election Code of Conduct was applied to the entire South Goa on account of Usgao's participation in the by-poll, effectively restricting policy decisions and other announcements.
What makes Usgao geographically and politically strategic is that the MLA winning the Valpoi seat would have considerable clout in the entire Usgao region, thereby making further inroads into the politically significant Ponda taluka.