TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Panjim’s Wards 11 and 12 are a mixed bag. Ward 11 is represented by Atanasio Monserrate backed Deputy Mayor Kabir Makhija and ward 12 has BJP’s former Mayor Vaidehi Naik as councillor.
While Ward 12 is more likely to vote for the BJP candidate, Ward 11 might spring some surprises, as Monserrate is not openly supporting the Congress candidate, at least so far.
The two wards have a total of 1550 voters – 800 in Ward 11 and 750 in Ward 12. While Makhija is a first-time councillor, Naik has been elected from the ward for the last three terms. This rather piquant situation may give BJP’s Siddharth Kunkolienkar a lead, in the two wards.
Talking to residents of these two centrally-located wards of the capital city gives a clear picture that those from Ward 12 are canvassing for the BJP, while Ward 11 is looking for a candidate who will bring development, protection and conservation of their heritage area.
“In the Assembly elections in Panjim, the people will not vote along party lines but for the candidate who promises to bring about all-round development to the city,” Makhija told Herald. Makhija, a favourite of Monserrate, has reportedly distanced himself from Furtado’s campaign. “I do not belong to any political party,” he said.
On the other hand, BJP’s Naik is confident of her party’s clean sweep in her ward. “This is a BJP ward. People here are very enthusiastic and are working for BJP. I have been elected as a BJP councilor for the past three terms without any hurdle. This itself proves how strong the BJP is over here,” she said.
Residents of Ward 11, the largest ward area wise, are seeking a candidate who does not consider them merely as voters, but looks at their problems as citizens. “I am looking for development, which we have not seen for the past so many years. Everything in our ward and in the city has deteriorated,” Campal resident and activist Patricia Pinto said. She pointed out to the garbage mess, parking problems and the condition of the St Inez creek, which is crying for attention for years now.
“Panjim is slowly losing its identity,” Pinto lamented. Further, along the Bal Bhavan lane, housewife Manda Prabhu stressed for the need to have a better quality of life. “We need to vote for those who can give us better quality of life. Not look at us just as voters they should treat us like citizens,” she said.
In ward 12, except for a few voters, the majority are supporting the BJP. “We have a strong hold on the booth here. Panjim has always been a BJP stronghold and it will continue to remain with BJP,” resident Ulhas Naik said.
In the case of these two wards, BJP is likely to have the upper hand. The only hope for the Congress is the discontent within the BJP ranks and among its supporters over the selection of candidate which was done without consulting them. That may garner Congress a few votes.
