02 Feb 2017 | 03:55am IST
Candidates hoping to upset Parsekar’s applecart in Mandrem
Goa’s CM rides on development works done by BJP; Bhandari Society-born Sopte of Congress feels people are not happy with Parsekar, while Devendra claims AAP is the best option for a change
Busy Parsekar has corner meetings, explains plans for every ward
With current Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Congress candidate Dayanand Sopte, AAP’s Devendra Prabhudesai, MGP’s Shridhar Manjrekar, Bahujan Mukti candidate Bhim Pednekar, NCP’s Rajendra Satelkar and one independent, all are hoping to upset the applecart of Parsekar who is aiming for a hat-trick in Mandrem.
Parsekar, current Goa’s CM, is contesting for the third term from Mandrem. With administrative responsibilities on his shoulders Parsekar reportedly could not conduct a campaign but held corner meetings. He began at Salgaonkar Wada Tuem at 9 am sharp on Tuesday after he took care of the responsibilities early in the morning.
Giving 30 minutes to each corner meeting, he explained about his achievements in the constituency and also his plan for each ward. Communicating in an interactive session, he answered their questions and got to know their demands. During these meetings, people discussed about unemployment and Mandrem, being a constituency of farmers, also raised the amendment of tenancy act issue. After lunch break, Parsekar covered Salgaonkarwado, Harmalkarwado, Tuem, Morjim with the last meeting at Virnoda which ended at 10 pm.
Parsekar has to say this at the end of his corner meetings. “People can see development that has taken place in this constituency for the last five years. After the infrastructure development in all sectors, such as health, education, employment, I am getting positive response from the people. Presence of opponents makes the contest more interesting.”
Sopte seeks blessings & support
Dayanand Sopte, the Congress candidate, starts his campaign at 9 am sharp with around 300 supporters accompanying him on Tuesday morning. Being born in a Bhandari society, Sopte is welcomed with a smile at every doorstep. He handed his manisfesto personally to every household he visited and sought blessings. With only half an hour for lunch break, Sopte takes the trail at 1.30 pm and continued till his campaign ended with a corner meeting at Ashwem at 10.30 pm.
Dayanand Sopte said, “We have completed our 100 per cent door to door campaign and have covered the whole constituency. I have received a good response from the people who have made their mind to defeat Laxmikant Parsekar in this election. Other party leaders have also pledged their support.”
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AAP’s Devendra banking on his social activities
AAP candidate Devendra Prabhudesai is making his debut in contesting for the assembly election. Since AAP is a new party in Goa it has been preparing for the polls for many months. Devendra, in his whole career, worked as a social worker and has fought against illegal activities through his group Swabhimani Pednekar. People know him for his contribution to the society.
On Tuesday at 10 am, Devendra led his team of 70 supporters for his door to door campaign in Ashwem Village. In this visit, he personally spoke to people and distributed the party manifesto. From 10 am they went door to door and took a lunch break at 2pm. After lunch he returned to his campaigning and at 4.30 pm they covered Gawde Wada.
He said, “Our door to door campaigning will end with a bike and car rally. We received positive response from the people. Along with door to door visit, we also conducted corner meetings and interactive sessions with Power Point presentation in each ward of this constituency. The major point is people are neither happy nor satisfied with the current government as well as the previous government so they need change and a third option is AAP. People have already made their decision of choosing AAP”.
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