MARGAO
These three MLAs may be contesting on different party labels, but the trio is facing a similar question in their respective constituencies -- Will these three Congress-turned-BJP MLAs overcome the “defector” tag and make it to the Legislative Assembly in the coming polls? Or, will they fail to succeed in convincing their electorate that they had defected from the Congress to join the BJP to usher in the development of their constituencies?
Indeed, the issue of defection has taken the centre stage in the constituencies of Velim, Cuncolim and Nuvem, where ex-minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues, sitting BJP MLA Clafasio Dias and ex-BJP MLA Wilfred D’Sa are all in the fray with Nationalist Congress Party, BJP and as Independent, respectively.
While Filipe Nery is facing a battle at hand to retain the Velim seat, Clafasio is the only candidate amongst the trio, who is seeking reelection on the BJP banner. Wilfred, who had quit the BJP on the eve of the election, is contesting the polls as an Independent.
In fact, opponents of these three candidates have not lost a single opportunity to rake up their defection from Congress to the BJP to corner them and put them on the back foot.
The ground reality reveals that the trio is back in the reckoning in their respective constituencies, though their challengers have all brought the issue of defection to the fore.
In Velim, ex-minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues is facing a tough battle in his political career spanning around 25 years. His supporters, however, say Filipe Nery has campaigned in his constituency by trying to overcome the defector tag by highlighting the development and other issues. In fact, Filipe Nery has gone about his campaign systematically without being unduly worried about the defector issue raked up by his rival candidates.
A similar situation prevails in the Nuvem constituency where Congress-turned-BJP MLA Wilfred D’Sa is in the fray as an Independent. As the Congress is facing a challenge from non-BJP parties such as Trinamool Congress, AAP and the NCP, sources said Wilfred has run his campaign with the strong backing of the village sarpanchas and panch members, going about the campaign by explaining to his voters why he had decided to quit Congress to embrace the BJP.
In fact, Wilfred seemed to concentrate on the voters, whom he had lent a helping hand during his stint in the ruling BJP, by taking up development works.
The situation is slightly different in Cuncolim, where Clafasio Dias is seeking reelection on the BJP banner. Given that the BJP has a significant presence in Cuncolim, Clafasio had gone about his campaign, confident in getting the BJP traditional vote and is hoping that his connection with the people will him tide over the defector tag.
