AMIT POKRE
PANAJI
If all goes well, the counting day on Thursday could ring in a triple celebration for Congress candidate Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate.
Coincidentally, Babush’s wedding anniversary and son’s birthday is also on May 23.
Supporters of Babush are optimistic of his Panaji bypoll win and preparations are in full swing for a triple delight.
“It is a good coincidence that Babush and Jeniffer’s wedding anniversary and son Rohit’s birthday coincides with the counting day. We are confident that our leader will get an opportunity to have a triple celebration. We want to make it a memorable day”, said one enthusiastic supporters of Babush.
“We have planned a mega vehicle victory rally wending its way through Panaji city, Taleigao and St Cruz areas. Loads of fire crackers have been stacked up and kept ready for the victory celebration,” another supporter disclosed.
The Panaji bypoll is expected to go down the wire with both front-runners Siddharth Kunkoliencar and Babush engaged in a tight contest. Both candidates had exuded confidence of a win soon after polling on May 19.
Babush, though showing optimism of his win, has refused to put a number to the margin of his victory. Incidentally, if he emerges victorious he will hold the distinction of winning assembly elections in three different constituencies. He had earlier represented Taleigao and St Cruz constituencies.
Meanwhile BJP candidate Siddharth, while appearing positive about his victory, said he will poll around 10000 and looks bank on a split in votes by other candidates.
Interestingly, AAP candidate Valmiki Naik and Goa Suraksha Manch candidate Subhash Velingkar are also expecting over 8000 thousand votes in the bypoll.
