As the buzz for State Assembly election ended in March with new BJP-led coalition government taking over, political parties are now busy to get its hold on the local governing body-Village Panchayat. Gaining an upper hand in the VP election is a matter of prestige for the political parties and the concerned MLAs, specially the one in power.
A Total 186 village panchayats (VPs) having 1467 wards, will be going for polls on June 11. As many as 5297 candidates are in fray. Panchayat elections will be interesting this time, as it will happen within three months of the new government taking over. The new MLAs, especially the first-timers will try and wrestle, control of panchayats in their respective constituencies to establish their hold.
The panchayat elections, held under the Panchayat Raj Act, specifies that the elections are to be conducted on apolitical lines, but political parties, do not really seem to care for the law. Right from ruling BJP and its allies- Goa Forward Party, MGP and Independents and the opposition Congress and the recent entrant Aam Aadmi party (AAP) are backing panels and individual candidates- making all out efforts to ensure their win.
The Ministers and MLAs like Rohan Khaunte, Jayesh Salgaonkar, Michael Lobo, Francis Silvera, Govind Gawade, Churchill Alemao, Luizinho Faleiro, Chandrakant Kavalekar, Felip Neri are amongst those front leaders openly canvassing door-to-door for their panels.
The State Election Commission (SEC) has allowed Ministers and MLAs to take part in the campaigning but are refrained from using their official vehicle or any other government machinery for the purpose.
BJP and its allies have a clear understanding on not to cross each other’s path. BJP has its hold on panchayats in the constituencies of Calangute, Valpoi, Bicholim, Curchorem, Cortalim, Dabolim, Old Goa, Aldona and Mayem. Its coalition partner MGP has hold over Pernem, Sanvordem and Marcaim while Goa Forward party is ruling Saligao and Siolim.
The Independents, who are part of the government, have hold on the panchayats in the constituencies of Porvorim, Priol and Sanguem.
“Being coalition partners, we are supporting each others. We have asked our workers to work for the panel fielded by our coalition members in their respective constituencies. Similarly, the GFP and MGP workers are canvassing for our panels, where we have fielded candidates,” a senior BJP leader confirmed.
“Our karyakartas are working with the candidates backed by the party at village level. Party is confident of gaining hold over maximum panchayats. Our MLAs are also canvassing at their individual capacity,” BJP president Vinay Tendulkar told Herald.
When contacted, Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said ‘yes I have fielded a panel and I am canvassing also. My wife is one of the candidates. We are getting massive support all across”.
Even the Minister for Housing and Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar is busy campaigning door-to-door and it’s evident from his ‘tweeter account’, where the Minister is posting frequent pictures of his canvassing.
Though, the recent assembly election saw people rejecting Bharatiya Janata Party- who despite this cobbled up to form a coalition government- the saffron party has advantage as well disadvantage of the VP polls. While there may be many thinking to vote for a panel backed by ruling coalition as it always better from the developmental point of view, many are upset with the BJP’s act of snatching away power from Congress- who emerged as the single largest party during February 4 election.
“It is no more secret that political parties field their panel for panchayat election, without party symbol. This election too, we are backing panels as well as individual candidates. We are confident that people will once again reject the BJP and its coalition members. They have cheated the voters and there is anger amongst people,” Congress leader of opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar said.
With just a week to go for the panchayat election, eyes are also focused on Salcete’s political bigwigs and the newcomers, who are busy campaigning with a host of candidates throwing their hat in the electoral ring for the 30 panchayat bodies dotting the taluka.
NCP MLA Churchill Alemao is currently busy making door-to-door campaign with a plea to back and support candidates fielded by his panel. His counterparts, including Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro, Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues, and newcomers Clafacio Dias (Cuncolim) and Wilfred D’Sa (Nuvem), too have their panels in the battle field.
While the Congress is going all out to ensure its candidates win at the grass root level, its MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, however, do not appear keen in dabbling in local panchayat politics. Saying that some of his supporters have advised him not to involve himself in the coming poll, Reginaldo underlined the need to leave the choice of candidates to the people at the grass-roots.
“It is not right on part of the MLA to interfere in the grass-root level politics. All are my people and whoever wins, I will be with them,” he reacted.
