Team Herald

PANJIM: Laying to rest all speculation about a possible divide among the Congress MLAs, their united leap into the election campaign for Panjim candidate, Girish Chodankar, has given the party a major boost in its battle against BJP’s Manohar Parrikar who has represented the constituency for over two decades.

Despite not residing in Panjim, and hardly known in the State capital, Chodankar has managed to win people’s hearts and confidence with his simplicity, is what Herald came across after speaking to sections of people. 

All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Chodankar has till today reached out to almost every household in the constituency. Right from Ribandar to Miramar to Altinho to Bhatlem to Mala, Congress has ensured it covers every part of the constituency.

With limited time, Chodankar’s better half Sunita too jumped into the campaign covering houses, her husband could not visit.

Interestingly, Chodankar went to the Archbishop’s House at Altinho to canvass. However, he was not able to meet the Archbishop but had a conversion with other priests and appealed for their support.

“It is nice to see a clean, non corrupt and simple person in Congress. Chodankar is very simple and common man. Despite not being from Panjim, he is well versed with the problems of our constituency,” Govind Kalapurkar, resident of Bhatlem, said.

He feels that for the first time, there is a candidate, who can give Parrikar a tough time. Kalapurkar’s friend Mahesh, who was sitting beside him in a small tea shop, and a BJP supporter until December 2014, too thinks that Chodankar can give Parrikar a good fight. 

“Chodankar is a new face for the Panjim people. Whether he will be accepted or not, is what we will come to know on August 28. But for now, people have started talking about him,” he said. 

Chodankar has focused on house-to-house campaigns, as he wants to strike a chord with the voters. “I am not desperate to win the election, but desperate to win the people of Panjim. And I am thankful that the people have accepted me, blessed me and created confidence in me,” Chodankar said, with 48 hours of campaigning left. 

A resident from Miramar, Mariano D’Costa said, “I don’t feel there is any harm in bringing a change. We gave chance to Siddharath Kuncolienkar, then why not Girish?”

D’Costa said that Chodankar during his visit to Miramar visited each and every house and appealed to the voters for their support. “The place where I stay has around 30 apartments and all are voters of Panjim. He visited every flat personally,” he said. 

“The presence of Congress MLAs for the campaign gave a much-need boost to the Chodankar campaign. There are several well wishers of Digamber Kamat, Jennifer Monserrate in the constituency. This is a positive sign,” Samuel Fernandes, a Congressman from St Inez, said.

Congress Panjim block president Sameer Pai Raikar said Chodankar has managed to touch the feeling of every voter. “We have focused on reaching out the individuals then groups or communities. We can feel that people have decided to bring a change this time,” he said.