TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: Will all the political heavyweights fielding candidates, the Calangute ZP constituency was a high-profile election, but eventually the Lotus bloomed yet again following a narrow win by the candidate supported by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo.
Shawn Martins defeated his nearest rival Savio Gonsalves, who was supported by Joseph Sequeira, by a margin of 571 votes, while Ramkrishna Kerkar backed by former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes came third.
Martins polled 5,218 votes, while Savio Gonsalves (4,647), Ramkrishna Kerkar (3,228), Mahesh Korgaonkar (649), Laxman Parab (418) and Ashley Gomes (137) shared the remaining 14,297 valid votes. In all, 220 votes were rejected.
When the counting was taken up, Savio was leading in the first round in Calangute by almost 900 votes. However, Gonsalves failed to break into the stronghold of former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes and could not secure the lead and ultimately lost to Martins of BJP. Martins neutralized the lead of Gonsalves as the counting progressed in Candolim and Arpora-Nagoa.
Speaking to media persons, Lobo said the people of Calangute-Candolim-Nagoa-Arpora-Baga had reposed their faith in him for the good work done in their villages.
“We will continue to work for the villagers of Calangute constituency and try to fulfil their expectations. I have another person in the newly elected ZP member Martins, who will work hand in hand so that the expectations of the villagers are fulfilled,” he said.
Speaking to Herald, Agnelo Fernandes said the voters of Calangute constituency were confused, which ultimately led to the defeat of his candidate.
Newly elected Calangute ZP member Martins was overjoyed with the win over his nearest rival and thanked the people of Calangute, Candolim and Arpora-Nagoa-Baga for their overwhelming support.
In Anjuna, Vasudev Korgaonkar (BJP) won defeating his nearest rival Bala Naik by over 2,000 votes. Korgaonkar had the backing of WRD Minister Dayanand Mandrekar.
Korgaonkar polled 5,021 votes, while Bala Naik (2,581), Pedro Mendonca (1,534), Balwin Malvankar (1,043) and Anil Kerkar (132) shared the other valid votes.
Though it was expected to be a close contest, the winning margin was a huge one.
