When 'migrants' play kingmakers at home

PICS: SAVIO AND BASTIES

Photo caption

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Former MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho with wife Pratima have lunch at his supporter's house on Sodhu bandh. Santosh Mirajkar

The basties in Margao have all come alive ahead of elections for the Margao Civic body. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

MARGAO

What’s common between Moti Dongor, Azad Nagar and Fakir bandh, Kharelem and Khareband, et al located in the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal Council?

Well, any Madgavkar will say these areas, along with parts of Pajifond and other areas, are all migrant inhabited hubs dotting the commercial capital. For politicians of all hues, these areas, however, have turned out to be a perfect hunting ground for votes. In fact, politicians and candidates have fanned out to the basties and gullies, seeking votes and help from the migrants inhabiting these areas in the run up to the October 25 municipal election.

Inquiries by 'The Goan' have revealed that the migrant presence is mostly felt in around 6-7 wards, mostly in the Margao area of the civic body. It’s only in the Pajifond ward, which falls in Fatorda Assembly constituency, that one can find migrants holed up in the basties overlooking the government Junta quarters.

The influence of the migrants in times of election is spread right from Moti Dongor, covering the two Wards of 18 and 22 and down to the areas spread across Ward 15, 16, 20 and 13, all located on the southern side of the railway tracks. Take the case of Ward 20. Here, migrants are holed up on the Fakir bandh and the Sodhu bandh, with a total migrant voter population of around 600. The battle in this ward is focused in the basties of the ward with the Digambar Kamat-backed Model Margao fielding Jaffar with the hopes of taping the migrant vote. Seasoned campaigner and former Chairperson Savio Coutinho has not lagged behind either. He has made his presence felt in the gullies of both Sodhu and Fakir bandh in support of his candidature.

Ward 15 comprising areas of Sirvodem, Kharelem and Khareband has played host to a significant migrant voter population. If the candidates are to be believed, Kharelem and Khareband taken together has around close to 700 migrant voters in the ward.

Questions are being raised in political circles whether all the registered voters are residents of these basties or they have shifted their residence to other areas, but continue to enjoy their voting rights.

“There ought to be screening of the voters to find out whether they have shifted their place of residence, but continue to stay in these areas. Those who have shifted their residence are often acting like a mafia extorting money from the politicians in lieu of shifting votes for the candidates,” remarked sources in the know.

Sources, however, said that gone are the days when the migrant hubs used to vote en block in favour of a particular candidate or party. The last time Moti Dongor residents had voted en block was during the 2005 by-poll when Digambar Kamat had joined the Congress. Kamat had pocketed almost all the votes from the area, leaving BJP high and dry. But, times have changed since 2005, with Moti Dongor and Azad Nagar witnessing a division of votes in favour of candidates of their choice.

(More poll-related reports on TGR3)

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Wards where migrants can influence the poll result in Margao

Ward No 18

Moti Dogor -- Around 1495 votes

Ward No 22

Moti Dongor “ around 809 votes

Ward No 20

Fakir Bandh “ around 400 votes

Sodhu bandh “ around 200 votes

Ward No 16

Azad Nagar “ around 800-odd votes