PANJIM: After over a month of a hectic campaign, Sunday is when Panjim will elect a new MLA, to succeed former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar.
Although for a two brief periods Sidharth Kuncalienker was the BJP MLA from Panjim, the city has been represented by Parrikar since 1994.
Panjim’s 22,485 voters have six candidates to choose from. On the face of it, Congress’ Atanasio Monserrate appears to have the edge at the end of campaign but BJP’s Kunkalienker is not lagging far behind, though the latter has to also contend with a strong Subhash Velingkar of the Goa Suraksha Manch. AAP’s Valmiki Naik is the fourth candidate. Two others – Dilip Ghadi and Vijai More – are Independents.
The by-poll, necessitated following the demise of Parrikar on March 17, is turning out to be a prestige issue for BJP, that has been fighting to retain the seat they have been holding since 1994.
The by-election will also decide the political future of Goa, with Congress claiming that it will form the government after the results are declared on May 23.
Kuncalienker, who has won twice from the constituency, is facing Congress’ Monserrate, who though he lost the February election to the former, is the best bet from the opposition for the seat.
On winning the February poll, Kuncalienker had vacated the seat for Parrikar, who returned to State politics as Chief Minister after BJP cobbled together an alliance and formed the
government.
Former RSS Goa Chief Velingkar, who was closely associated with BJP before parting ways with the party in 2017, will fight his first election on a Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) ticket. Velingkar is popular in the city, especially amongst BJP cadres. AAP’s Naik is contesting for the second time.
Congress has not been able to manage to gain a hold over this constituency since Parrikar won for the first time in 1994. It attempted to break that hold in 2017 by supporting Monserrate. Later the same year, Congress president Girish Chodankar took on Parrikar but also didn’t succeed.
BJP has been seeking votes in Parrikar’s name, with even Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, who has been campaigning in the constituency, calling for votes as a tribute to the former Chief Minister. Congress, GSM and AAP have sought votes on the issue of development and change.
