MARGAO
Will the “Hand” of Congress come to the rescue of these candidates contesting on the party banner and also help the party pocket majority seats in Saxttidom to form the next government?
Rivals and like-minded parties expect to put up a better show and eclipse the Congress in its own bastion. Even the BJP is hoping against hope that Congress does not win enough seats from its borough this time round, and help the ruling party to retain power.
And, even as the Congress’ performance in the eight Salcete seats is a subject matter of debate ahead of the counting scheduled on March 10, most of the Congress players appear confidence personified, not willing to concede defeat in the seats of Velim, Nuvem, Navelim, Curtorim and Benaulim which have come under the scanner of political analysts and observers.
In fact, most of these Congress candidates tend to agree they had a battle at hand with a host of like-minded parties in the fray. They, however, sound confident of making it to the Goa Legislative Assembly by overcoming the battle for supremacy.
Be it Velim, Nuvem, Navelim and Curtorim, these constituencies have been the strongholds of the Congress party over the years. And, not to mention Benaulim, where the Congress had won many an election in the past before the party faced a drought in the last two decades.
Political observers say the performance of the Congress in these seats in Salcete will not only decide the fate of candidates contesting on the party symbol, but would have a bearing on government formation.
VELIM
This pre-dominantly Catholic constituency has a history of giving unassailable leads for the Congress in every Lok Sabha election. And, it has a history of flowing against the electoral tide too. Congress candidate, Savio D’Silva, who heads Velim village as its sarpanch, says all is not over for the Congress in Velim as is made out to be in certain quarters.
In fact, he sounded confident that the party would poll minimum 8,500-10,000 votes out of the 22,823 polled votes.
“Velim is a Congress stronghold. In a multi-cornered battle, I am confident of polling minimum 8,500 votes. There should be no problem for the Congress in retaining Velim,” he said.
Savio faced a host of established players in the fray, including ex-Minister, Filipe Nery Rodrigues, who contested on the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), former MLA Benjamin D’Silva (TMC), Cruz Silva (AAP) and others.
While many said Filipe Nery has been a strong contender for the Velim seat from day one, sources say, Benjamin and Cruz too are believed to have put up a commendable show in the last leg of the campaign.
NAVELIM
Name them, and the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Nationalist Congress Party et al were all in the fray in Navelim, again a Congress stronghold over the years. That’s not all. At least on the surface, one could see a consolidation of political forces, including former MLA and MP Luizinho Faleiro, former MLA Churchill Alemao, besides many a sarpanchas and panch members towards Valanka Alemao, giving the TMC candidate an advantage at least on paper. Congress candidate, Avertano Furtado, a former MLA, however, says the Congress is in the reckoning in
Navelim.
In fact, the goalkeeper-turned-politician says the Congress traditional vote has remained intact despite the hype created in favour of the TMC.
“Whatever others may say, I am confident the Congress would retain Navleim,” Avertano said.
CURTORIM
The Congress has lost Curtorim only twice in the last 45 years, indicating the seat has been a party stronghold over the last four decades. The presence of three-time ex-Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco in the fray, however, has thrown up a question or two whether the Congress would manage to retain the seat this time round.
Congress candidate Moreno Rebello, however, says he should win the seat by a margin of 1,000-2,000 votes. He explains that Curtorim has been a Congress bastion, exuding confidence that party’s decision to field a new face and Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the constituency would keep him in good stead.
“Congress ticket plays a big role in Curtorim. And, I too will benefit by this factor. People had already made up their mind to vote for the Congress. They want the Congress to form the government. I am confident of winning the election despite harassment meted out to me and my supporters by the election authorities,” he added.
BENAULIM
In a fierce battle for supremacy over Benaulim between TMC sitting MLA Churchill Alemao and his AAP challenger Venzy Viegas, many might have found Congress candidate Tony (Coke) Dias struggling to keep pace during the fortnight-long campaign.
Tony, however, reminded the poll pundits that though Congress might not have won the seat in recent times, Benaulim is the home for around 5,000-strong Congress votes.
“My work and the party’s vote should keep me in good stead in the election. People of Benaulim have seen my work and I am confident that the Congress would regain the seat,” Tony asserted.
