the goan I network
MARGAO
Can the Congress succeed in storming Raia in the coming Zilla Panchayat poll and put an end to the 15-year rule of Domnic Gaonkar, the two-time Independent candidate contesting the ensuing ZP election?
The Gaonkar family has maintained a stranglehold over the Raia seat for the past 15 years, with Domnic twice representing the seat in 2005 and 2010, and his wife retaining the seat in 2015. Given his strong presence in Raia, the Congress had made overtures to Domnic to return to the Congress fold and seek re-election on the party Hand symbol, but in vain.
Left with no option after Domnic spurned the offer at the eleventh hour, the Congress has settled for party veteran Joseph Vaz in a bid to get the party flag flying high again in the constituency.
With the seat reserved for ST community, Raia is witnessing a four-cornered contest with Domnic
Gaonkar (IND), Joseph Vaz (Congress), Liandrina Gomes (AAP) and Cruz Mariano Pereira (IND) in the fray.
Anxious to capitalize on the decision to contest on the Hand symbol, the Congress candidate and supporters have plunged into the campaign in right earnest, with Joseph moving door-to-door along with Camurlim Sarpanch Basil Fernandes, who was one of the Congress aspirants for the party ticket.
Aware of the reality that Raia and other villages comprising of Raia ZP constituency had all been voting strongly for the Congress in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the Congress camp makes no bones of the fact that the party can win half the battle on the symbol.
Says Congress candidate Joseph Vaz: “I need no introduction in the villages that make up the Raia ZP seat. I had been closely associated with the grass-roots bodies since the mid 80s. The Congress symbol will help me in a big way and my work over the last three decades will keep me in good stead in the
election’.
Joseph also denied allegations that he and his supporters have been going around the constituency with an agenda to label Domnic as a BJP-sponsored candidate. “Our campaign has been very positive so far. I am banking on my work as well as my promise to fight for powers for the ZPs. I need not tell the people that Domnic is supported by the ruling government. People of Raia are aware of who’s who,” he added.
Domnic, however, has begged to differ. He pointed accusing fingers at the rival Congress camp for deliberately spreading the news that he is being backed by the BJP. “I am contesting as an Independent after my workers told me not to contest on a party banner. I have the support of the people, including political leaders across the political spectrum. I am confident that people will stand by me on my performance and goodwill,” Domnic said.
Raia is one of the five seats in Salcete where the Congress is facing a challenge of sorts from an independent candidate. That the Congress leadership went out of the way to woo Domnic to contest on the party banner is an indication that the main opposition party recognized his strong presence in the constituency. But, with Domnic cold shouldering the Congress offer, the party had no option than to bank on a party veteran to keep the Congress flag flying high again in Raia.
