MARGAO
Can the Congress women’s power stop Churchill Alemao’s free run along Salcete coastal belt and set up a royal battle with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the 2022 Assembly election?
Or, will the Aam Aadmi Party, which had emerged as a serious contender in Benaulim politics in the 2017 Assembly election, make an impact in the Zilla panchayat polls?
For the Benaulim and Colva Zilla panchayat seats, the Congress candidates Royla Fernandes and Suzie Fernandes have been engaged in a battle royal against NCP candidates Menino de Bandar and Vania Baptista respectively, both backed by the NCP Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao.
Questions are being raised in Benaulim countryside on polling day whether Congress’ women power will stop Churchill’s free run along the coastal belt in this Zilla Panchayat polls.
Royla warned the ruling political players that what they would see in the Zilla Panchayat polls is just a trailer as the people, who have been on the ground fighting to protect the environment and the future of Goa, will come back to challenge the MLAs in 2022.
A seasoned campaigner of many a political battle, Churchill dismissed any threat to him or his candidates by the Congress or AAP candidates. “I have my own voters in Benaulim and Colva, who have always voted for me and my candidates, irrespective of party banner. These very same voters will vote for my candidates. I do not see any threat to my candidates from either the Congress or AAP,” Churchill said.
Both Royla and Suzie, however, put up a strong showing in their respective areas. In Colva, Suzie’s candidature received the backing of the ruling Colva panchayat headed by Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes.
Given that Suzie, a former Colva Sarpanch, is a local candidate, the Congress is hoping for a one-side battle in favour of its candidate in Colva village.
Churchill, however, begged to differ. “The five-member ruling Colva panchayat has backed the Congress candidate. But, the remaining four members have all worked for the NCP candidate. I do not see any major gain for the Congress candidate in Colva,” he said.
Observers say the NCP is expected to put up a good show in Seraulim village and the fate of the Congress and NCP candidates is expected to be decided by the voters in the two villages of Majorda and Betalbatim, which forms part of Nuvem Assembly constituency.
While Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa and his panchayat members from Majorda and Betalbatim have rallied behind the NCP candidate, the Congress candidate is expected to make inroads in Betalbatim village.
