PANJIM: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to have an upper hand in Ward 23 and 24, though its candidate Siddharath Kunkoliecar is not a big favourite amongst BJP voters here. Voters here will vote for their bellowed Manohar bhai- Parrikar.
Ward 23 is dominated by Atanasio Monserrate backed councilor and former deputy Mayor Rudresh Chodankar, who is always seen at the loggerhead with Mayor and Congress candidate Surendra Furtado. On the other hand ward 24, has always been dominated by BJP. Currently it BJP’s Diksha Mayenkar is representing the ward and she was elected from there for last three tenures at least. Both these wards together have 1300 voter strength, which by and large will go to BJP.
A round in these two wards, gives a similar picture that Kunkoliecar was not their choice for BJP in Panjim. While no one here is ready to come on record, but in an informal chat voters express their unhappiness for party selecting a ‘not so friendly’ candidate, as a successor of Manohar bhai. “BJP has a strong hold in ward 24, Boca De Wag. Manohar bhai has always been people’s leader. We will always be with the party irrespective of who the candidate is,” a resident said.
People are confident that their new leader-Kunkoliecar will further bring in the much needed development in their ward. Councillor Mayenkar openly said that her ward is BJP supporter and that cent percent votes will go to BJP.
“There is no question of whether people like Kunkoliecar (or not). He is nominated by Bhai and we have full faith in Bhai,” she said.
On the other hand, while Councillor Rudresh Chodankar gives a political comment stating ‘public hai sab janti hai (public knows), whom to vote and whom not to vote’, majority people speak in favour of BJP. No doubt there are few families-long time Congress loyalists here, who want their party to strengthen its hand in the Legislative assembly, by wining Panjim by-poll.
“Voters are from educated class and they know what is good for them. They will vote for deserving candidate,” Chodankar said.
No doubt BJP will gain in these two wards, whether it supports Kunkoliecar or not, the question does not matter, as people still see Manohar Parrikar face for Panjim.
