Will MGP-GSM-SS alliance damage BJP in Bardez?
Francis and Ticlo could be in for a surprise on March 11
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
The MGP-GSM-Shiv Sena alliance appears to be clawing into the BJP’s support base which could lead to some upsets in Bardez on March 11.
In at least two seats, the alliance candidates appear to have caused telling damage to the BJP candidates, causing much heartburn among its supporters.
The MGP-GSM-Shiv Sena alliance managed to field candidates in five constituencies in Bardez, except in Calangute and Tivim.
If the election campaign and the voting trend are of any indication, MGP appears to have given Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza alias Babush a run for his money in Mapusa.
From a safe constituency for BJP, Mapusa suddenly turned into an unpredictable seat with MGP’s Vinod Phadke alias Balu managing to turn the heat on Babush.
Balu is expected to do quite well in most of the five wards in Khorlim which is a stronghold of the deputy chief minister. He is also expected to do well in Cunchelim and Carrasvaddo in Wards 1 to 5.
Balu’s campaign appears to have been directed with precision and efficiency. He managed to bring all losing candidates in all 20 wards of Mapusa Municipal Council and all staunch MGP supporters under one umbrella.
He also managed to win over the Mapusa merchants and a section of the Muslim community with a little help from senior MGP leader, Sudin Dhavalikar. Moreover, Balu also managed to harness the illegal migrant community to a large extent.
“It’s either BJP or MGP in Mapusa and the way things have panned out, it appears Babush may be in for a surprise on March 11,” said Surendra Sirsat, former Speaker in the assembly and three-time MLA of Mapusa.
But there are others who believe that Babush would sail through, though his victory margin would be a far cry of 2012.
“Many people look at the larger good of the State. The development work started by this government should go ahead and this can happen only when the government at the Centre is the same as in the State. Babush’s will sail through, although his margin will dwindle,” said Ratnapal Salkar, a retired teacher, who has observed many elections.
In neighbouring Aldona, BJP’s Glenn Ticlo has had to face a late upsurge from MGP’s Mahesh Satelkar, who managed to corner large chunks of votes in many areas.
Satelkar made inroads in pockets of Ecoxim, Pomburpa, Ucassaim, Moira and even to some extent, in Bastora and the two wards in Mapusa.
Ticlo’s supporters are unfazed, but the result is wide open and could be too close to take a call on.
Two ministers “ Dilip Parulekar in Saligao and Dayanand Mandrekar in Siolim “ are facing the heat from Goa Forward rivals.
Both these constituencies have alliance candidates with Shiv Sena’s Rajesh Dabholkar contesting from Saligao and GSM’s Paresh Raikar contesting from Siolim.
Similarly, Rajesh Amonkar is the MGP alliance candidate in Porvorim. Here too, the contest appears to be razor-sharp between BJP and the independent candidate, Rohan Khaunte.
Although the MGP-GSM-Shiv Sena alliance failed to put up candidates in Calangute and Tivim, both the BJP candidates have met their match in the Congress candidates and the results could go either way.
