Both newcomers hope to win amidst the heat and dust of Sanguem

SHWETA KAMAT

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SANGUEM

Sanguem constituency, where Bharatiya Janata Party is facing a battle within, after it denied ticket to its sitting legislator Vasudeo Meng Gaonkar, is a different battle ground from other constituencies. Though it seems an imminent straight fight between BJP’s candidate Subhash Faldesai and Nationalist Congress Party’s young candidate Yuri Alemao, son of Joaquim Alemao, the mining affected people, who are considered to form a large part of population here, are in a foul mood and are intending to boycott the Assembly polls, on March 3.

The small village of Cauvrem, which mounted a historic battle against illegal mines, is unhappy with the happenings around. “We have people involved in mining, as candidates for this election. Yuri is a mine owner and Faldesai is mining contractor. We wanted someone who can help us in our fight against mines,” Nilesh Gaonkar, a leader from Cauvrem said.

Gaonkar was supported by bunch of locals here, who said that Cauvrem villagers are toying with the idea of boycotting the polls, if they don’t have candidate of their choice. “We are yet to decide. We may even support independent candidate,” Gaonkar said.

Going back to the political tussle, along with BJP, there is a strong negative feeling amongst Congressmen after NCP was given the constituency as part of the pre poll alliance.

In the entire discussion on pros and cons of family dynasty, this constituency attains importance. Benaulim and Sanguem might throw up two new Alemaos in state’s politics.

But people here are far away from this issue of family politics. “What’s important is that candidate should provide us employment. Mining is a major issue, we want mining by-pass to be completed on priority and trucks should vanish from here. Sanguem bridge needs to be widened. We want the candidate who can do all this for us,” Ganesh Morpekar, a shopkeeper at Sanguem bus stand disclosed his wish list.

The bus stand has been going through unique phase of neglect. Besides the garbage littered around, the number of buses arriving here have declined due to mining traffic.

“What do you want to know about Sanguem? It’s a dusty place which feeds money to cities like Panjim. We have no proper roads here, no proper buses,” Santosh Gaonkar, who was sitting besides Morpekar lamented.

The constituency will witness a straight fight between Alemao and Faldesai. But Vasudeo Meng Gaonkar is another factor that is crucial for the candidates. “I will not rebel against the party. But I have decided not to campaign for Faldesai. He is a Congressman who recently joined BJP. I want to know what wrong I did that the party refused me a ticket,” Gaonkar questioned this reporter sitting in his office, a stone’s throw from Sanguem bus stand.

Gaonkar says that despite being in Opposition, he managed to get development here. “95 per cent people were dependent on tankers for water but now situation has changed, there is water in every household. The internal roads are tendered, their work was about to start before code of conduct was announced,” he said.

The sitting legislator assured that he would not work against the party but `surely he wont share the dais with Faldesai.’

On the other side, BJP candidate Faldesai hopes that differences between him and Gaonkar would be sorted out within next couple of days. “he is bound to get upset. But I am sure he will work for me,” said Faldesai, who had left BJP to join Congress in 2004. He admits that joining Congress was his biggest mistake. “I was hurt because of Zilla panchayat polls but now I realized that I made a mistake. I was in Congress but never subscribed to their philosophy,” Faldesai explains.

Along with mining, the constituency which gave water to entire Goa through Selaulim dam by sacrificing their lands, Gods and farms, is being neglected, and this is where candidates will have to target much of their assurances.

Yuri Alemao has already begun his campaigning here. He may be disliked by many Congressmen, who were vying for a ticket here. But certainly his charisma and charm are working well here.

On a campaign trail, we met Yuri surrounded by several supporters. “I am here for development of the constituency,” he narrated, adding that he is contesting election not as an Alemao sibling. “I have my own identity and people have accepted me as Yuri,” he said rubbishing talks of family or dynasty.

“There is no doubt that I have blessings of my father but it has nothing to do with election. He will remain my father even without it,” he said.