MARGAO
Right until polling day, poll pundits as well as a section of Congress leaders had virtually written off the Nuvem seat in favour of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Several factors were cited, including the candidature of former footballer Luis Barretto, who was contesting on the AAP banner with the full backing of former Nuvem MLA Wilfred Babashan.
However, the electorate of Nuvem proved all predictions wrong, as Congress candidate Anthony Braganza romped home to a convincing victory. Congress leaders and workers in the constituency were quick to describe the win as a strong rebuff to defectors and their supporters.
Braganza’s victory came as a major surprise not only to Congress leaders but also to political observers, particularly since the Congress campaign appeared subdued when compared to the well-organised AAP campaign.
Congress general secretary and senior leader from Nuvem, Everson Vales, maintained that he had consistently cautioned against underestimating the party. “From day one, I said the Congress should not be taken lightly. The party fielded Anthony Braganza as part of Congress president Amit Patkar’s decision to give representation to grassroots workers. What happened in Nuvem is the power of the people. Here, every Congress worker is a leader, and together they have defeated the defectors,” Vales said.
Meanwhile, Congress South Goa district president Savio D’Silva stated that the people of Nuvem had decisively rejected defectors, as the Congress had chosen loyal party workers as candidates. “There were even allegations that the Congress had sold tickets. But we were confident from the beginning that the Congress would win the Nuvem seat,” he added.
