MARGAO
As Benaulikars brace up to vote for the Benaulim Zilla Panchayat by-poll on Sunday, a common question that did the rounds in political circles along the coastal belt was “ whether the BJP ghost raised by Aam Aadmi Party and the INDI Alliance will play on the voters, which had just a month ago come out in strength in the Lok Sabha election to give Captain Viriato Fernandes the highest lead in South Goa.
In fact, suspense continues in political circles after AAP leaders claimed a day ago that the BJP is making backdoor entry into Benaulim. What has further added to the suspense is a similar statement made by Congress MP Capt Viriato Fernandes about the BJP’s game plan in Benaulim, and his caution to the Benaulim voters to rally behind the INDI Alliance to foil saffron party’s evil designs.
Take note, Independent candidates Grrayfans Fernandes and Royla Fernandes have rebutted Captain’s statement of BJP support, but political observers are assessing the ground reality, as the ghost of BJP raised by both AAP leaders and Captain Viriato Fernandes has become a talking point in Benaulim countryside.
Having voted against the BJP in large numbers in the just concluded Lok Sabha election by rallying behind the INDI Alliance candidate Captain Viriato Fernandes, observers said AAP leaders seemed to have played the BJP card strategically at the right time moments before campaigning ended on Friday evening. Similarly, sources referred to the timing of Captain Viriato’s video in support of AAP candidate Joseph Pimenta, leaving hardly time to the Independents to not only deny the statement but go back and convince their respective supporters that the BJP ghost is the creation of the AAP and INDI Alliance as part of election strategy.
Meanwhile, all attention is focused on the Aam Aadmi Party Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas as he seemed to have not left a single stone unturned to drum up support for party candidate Joseph Pimenta. While banking on the dedicated AAP volunteers spread across the villages of Benaulim, Varca, Orlim, Carmona and Cavelossim, the Benaulim MLA has managed to rope in INDI Alliance in support of AAP candidate, to ensure that the Congress does not field a candidate for the by-poll.
Besides AAP candidate Joseph Pimenta, the Independent candidates include Royla Fernandes, Grrayfans Fernandes and Frank Fernandes.
