MARGAO
Exactly a week to go for the February 14 polls and the campaign heading towards the slog overs, the Congress has a task cut out “ hit sixes and fours in the next seven days if the party hopes to maintain its stranglehold over its powerhouse Salcete which has as many as eight seats at stake.
Aware that the party cannot think of reaching the magic figure of 21 seats to form the next government without pocketing majority seats spread across Salcete, Congress leadership is indeed facing a challenge of sorts from the new parties that are eyeing the same political space in the minority heartland.
In the 2017 Assembly polls, the Congress had come close to forming the government after the party bagged six out of the eight seats in Salcete, with the remaining two seats going to the Nationalist Congress Party and the Goa Forward. The BJP had drawn a blank in Salcete in the last election, but the party is working systematically to regain its lost ground in Margao, Fatorda and Cuncolim.
Congress leaders in private concede that the party is facing a fierce battle from other non-BJP parties in its stronghold. Banking on the anti-BJP sentiment, the leaders, however, exude confidence that Saxttikars will rally behind the party and ensure the return of Congress back to power.
The ground reality, however, reveals that the party is locked in a fierce battle for honours with the non-BJP players, including the Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Nationalist Congress Party and not to mention debutant Revolutionary Goans Party.
Take the case of Benaulim. A battle royal is underway between sitting Trinamool Congress MLA Churchill Alemao and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) challenger Venzy Viegas. The Congress, which entered the race comparatively late, just days before the process of filing of nomination papers could end, is seen trying to recover as much ground as possible.
In Navelim too, the ground situation shows the Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party are all around, challenging the Congress in its bastion. Even as the three parties along with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are slogging on the ground for the non-BJP space, the BJP is going all out to capitalize on the split in the Congress vote and romp home to victory.
Take note, Navelim is the home for a 6,000-strong Muslim vote. While the Luizinho-Churchill-Valanka-TMC combine is eying on the Muslim vote to keep the party in good stead, the Congress, NCP and AAP are not leaving any stone unturned to woo the Muslim vote.
Unlike the past, political observers say the BJP is enjoying a significant presence in Navelim. Party nominee Ulhas Tuemkar, who has goodwill even amongst the Muslim community, can give rivals a run for their money if the BJP retains its vote intact.
In Cuncolim, the Congress and the BJP are locked in a battle for honours. TMC nominee Dr Jorson Fernandes too has covered a lot of ground in Cuncolim, while AAP is banking on the support base to keep candidate Prashant Naik in good stead. That Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is repeatedly visiting Cuncolim is an indication the ruling party is making a determined bid to regain the seat it had last won a decade ago in 2012.
The battle for Velim, one of the Congress strongholds after Nuvem and Benaulim, is also facing a close battle. Congress nominee Savio D’Silva has a task cut out for him -- overcome the challenge from NCP candidate, ex-minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues and TMC candidate Benjamin D’Silva. He will have to also contend with AAP nominee Cruz Silva, who had started his campaign months ago.
The situation in Curtorim is no better. Statistics show that Curtorim is the stronghold of the Congress party. Former Congress three-time MLA Reginaldo Lourenco is now contesting as an Independent, while the Congress has nominated ex-ZP member Moreno Rebello. Take note, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Dominic Gaunkar has already covered a lot of ground. The BJP has fielded ST leader Anthony Barbosa, but the main task before the ruling party is to retain the party's traditional vote intact.
The Congress is facing an acid test in Nuvem, another party stronghold. Veteran heavyweight Aleixo Sequeira is facing a challenge of sorts from ex-MLA Wilfred D’Sa, who is in the fray as an Independent, besides candidates fielded by the non-BJP parties, Jose Raju Cabral (TMC), Dr Mariano Godinho (AAP) and former Minister Mickky Pacheco.
In the twin constituencies of Margao and Fatorda too, the ruling is making a determined bid to unseat the sitting MLAs, Digambar Kamat (Congress) and Vijai Sardesai (Goa Forward). Compared to the 2017 election, political observers say the duo is facing an acid test to their leadership with the BJP going all out to wrest the seats from the Congress-Goa Forward combine.
