The constituency with over 20,800 voters, situated on the outskirts of the capital city of Panjim-- St Andre was left unattended for past six months ever since their representative MLA and deputy Speaker Vishnu Surya Wagh was hospitalised. Writer-turned-politician Wagh, who managed to gain a narrow victory in the 2012 State election, is currently being treated in Mumbai after suffering massive cardiac arrest on August 15, last year. Since then, the constituency has no leader. 

“Past six months, no one turned up to see, what the people were suffering from…what were their problems and whom they should have approached with their grievances. Now with elections, everyone has woken up and are showing concern for people,” Antonio Mores, a teacher and St Andre resident, lamented as to how the constituents were feeling ‘orphaned’ in the absence of their leader.  

The constituency, the smallest as far as the total number of voters are concerned, has always distanced itself from any controversies or limelight. Having as many as seven village panchayats - Siridao, Curca-Bambolim, St Lawrence Agassaim, Goa Velha, Azossim-Mandur, Neura and Batim- the female voters (11,147) have overpowered their male counterparts (9687). 

The biggest worry haunting the people here is the issue of dual citizenship. Nearly 25 percent of the population here has obtained Portuguese passport cum citizenship. With Union Government now hinting that these people will lose their voting rights in Goa, the constituents have been baffled. 

“What will the people do, if there are no enough employment opportunities available in Goa? You don’t get government job without paying bribe and in private sector the earning is very less. Hence, people prefer to obtain Portuguese passport cum citizenship - a gateway to enter United Kingdom,” Rohidas Shirodkar, a small-scale businessman says. 

“Unemployment is a major problem that the people of St Andre are facing today. This has resulted in migration. People here have opted for Portuguese passport for greener pasture in European countries. Many have surrendered their Indian citizenship and have opted for Portuguese nationality,” Jagdish Bhobe, Goa Velha Sarpanch, and MGP candidate. 

The Hindu-Catholic population is the dominating factor here. Majority of the Catholic families are either into traditional fishing or have opted for Portuguese nationality.

Lack of development, fewer employment opportunities, scarcity of drinking water, haphazard residential expansion, etc. are some of the issues these constituents are grappling with. At the same time, they are thankful to their MLA Wagh, for his attempt to widen the narrow stretch of Bambolim hill-the accident prone zone and for providing with rumblers along Siridao-Pale junction. 

“Irregular water supply and garbage menace are two basic problems the locals are facing. Despite several complaints, the authorities have turned a blind eye in resolving these crucial issues. Scarcity of water has hit hard,” Bhobe further explains. 

The displacement of over 300 people due to the land acquisition for the proposed new Zuari Bridge is a cause of concern in Agassaim. As many as 30 families will be directly affected, while there are few whose agricultural fields would be destroyed due to the land acquisition. 

“We are not against the development of the State, but the affected people should be dealt with in a proper way. So far, only verbal assurances have been given, but there is nothing on paper. There are 30 houses that will be affected and half of them will be completely demolished. Adding to this, the fields will also be destroyed,” James Afonso, Sarpanch St Lawrence panchayat said. 

“Government assured to look into our grievance and accordingly take necessary steps for compensation or rehabilitation. However, nothing has worked out till now,” Rohidas Biku said. 

The constituents stood united during their opposition to the Nauxi marina project proposed by the State government. The local MLA, who begged support from their entire constituency, had even threatened to resign if government goes ahead with the proposal. The move was later scrapped. 

With elections round the corner, there are four candidates in fray as for now with all political parties- BJP, Congress, AAP and MGP trying their luck. The 2012 election also witnessed 4 candidates in fray, with BJP managing a narrow win against the Congress. 

With sitting MLA Wagh’s health issue keeping him out of the race, BJP has fielded his brother and educationist Ramarao Wagh. The opposition claims that his candidature is a move to gain sympathy votes for the BJP-who is losing its hold here. “Let the opposition speak what they have to but I am been nominated due to my credibility,” Wagh states. 

He admits that the constituency, compared to all other assembly seats in Tiswadi taluka, is the most backward with no development and no improvement in quality of life. “There is lot of scope for development. There is a need for industrial push here,” he says. 

Former MLA Francisco Silveira, who is once again in battle field on Congress ticket, has raised serious concern about growing unemployment and people opting for Portuguese citizenship. “This needs to be stopped. More and more people are opting for Portuguese passport and citizenship and exploring job opportunities there.  This one issue, which needs to be tackled seriously,” he stated. 

Amongst all this, AAP has fielded the youngest candidate- Rama Kankonkar. Attempts to get him on record failed as he was busy campaigning.