MAPUSA
Bardez has always been a BJP bastion and it wasn’t different in the last Zilla Panchayat elections when it won majority of the seats at stake in the taluka.
This time, however, things are different and the saffron brigade will have to put it across a number of hurdles if it has to achieve its past glory.
The ongoing agitation against the three linear projects and the plausible anger among the people is expected to keep the party on edge.
The presence of Congress candidates in the fray (the grand old party had not fielded candidates last time) is also expected to make the contest interesting.
Out of nine ZP constituencies in Bardez, the BJP had won seven seats in 2015 while the other two were cornered by candidates affiliated to Porvorim (Independent) MLA, Rohan Khuante.
The BJP candidates had won in Calangute, Sirsaim, Aldona, Colvale, Siolim, Anjuna and Reis Magos while the seats of Penha-da-France and Socorro were bagged by the Independents aligned to the Porvorim MLA.
The Congress is testing the ZP waters for the first time and has fielded candidates in all the nine constituencies in Bardez.
The North Goa Congress District President Vijay Bhike appeared upbeat and said his party will do well and emerge triumphant in Bardez.
“The anger against the present government is palpable. We appeal to the people of Goa to come out and express their anger against the establishment on December 12,” Bhike said.
He said besides the ongoing agitations there were several important issues that this government has failed to address.
“Failure to protect our Mhadei, sloppy handling of the Covid crisis, rising unemployment, ruined economy and more localized problems such as water scarcity in Bardez will definitely roll the dice in our favour,” he said.
The former BJP legislator Kiran Kandolkar who has since joined the Goa Forward Party is also expected to make a dent in the BJP’s prospects in at least two constituencies if not more.
The BJP tried to make light of Kandolkar’s challenge but the former BJP MLA can definitely give the saffron party a run for money.
Kandolkar has fielded his wife in Colvale and a close aide in Sirsiam constituency.
The working President of the Goa Forward, Kiran Kandolkar said he was confident before the pandemic could strike and has emerged even stronger during the Covid crisis.
“Our karyakartas went out and helped people actively during the Covid while the BJP candidates and karyakartas remained hidden inside. People of Tivim and Aldona constituencies are wise enough to know the difference,” Kandolkar said.
“People of Goa are intelligent. They won’t get wooed and vote because someone has distributed ‘fav’ and ‘gud’ to them,” he added, tongue firmly in cheek.
The Aam Aadmi Party is also making a push and has fielded candidates in four constituencies “ Socorro, Calangute, Sirsaim and Aldona.
Surprisingly, AAP has struck a chord with the common man and the party’s ‘Veez Andolan’ has been drawing quite a good number.
“We are getting very good response. People are fed up with BJP and Congress and are looking for an alternative. We are expected to fare well in the ZP polls,” said Rahul Mhambre, AAP Convenor.
Despite a myriad of issues at play, the BJP is unfazed and expects to do handsomely and even better the previous record.
“The ongoing agitation may get some traction in South Goa but it is not expected to make much of an impact in North Goa. We expect to win 20 out of 25 seats in North Goa. We will improve our record in Bardez,” Asnodkar said.
He said the work done by the BJP karyakartas during the pandemic will hold the party in good stead.
