It is a sordid state of affairs that the criminal elements have re-entered the election fray in different avatars with the courts delaying the initiation of criminal and anti-incumbency cases against them.
With campaigning in full swing to the run up to the assembly elections with barely a week to go, the general tendency of the electorate is to dump the ruling MLAs lock, stock and barrel for their shenanigans and corrupt practices by amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income as will be evident from their affidavits filed with the returning officer.
The upcoming election will be a do or die mandate for Goa for retaining whatever is left of its pristine beauty. It will be the first time that the locals will be facing turbulent parties such as AAP and TMC who have drawn their strength from disgruntled elements.
A rough consensus of the Salcete taluka is indicative of people casting their votes in favour of new and educated faces with an overwhelming consensus of re-electing the grand old Congress party back to power citing a no-nonsense attitude by rejecting Reginald Lourenco of Courtorim constituency who tried to make a comeback.
Almost all parties have taken pledges and oaths before temples, churches and mosques not to cross over for betraying the mandate of the people. AAP has even gone a step ahead of the religious overtones by signing affidavits.
All said and done it's going to be a battle of wits due to the potpourri of contestants and a confused electorate which may lead to a fractured verdict.
