MARGAO: With panchayat elections just round the corner, candidates have upped the ante and are going all out using different strategies to endear themselves to the voters so that they get elected to the panchayat.
Door-to-door campaigning is adopted by all the candidates but what is different is the manner in which the door to door campaign is done. While many still follow the traditional method of visiting people with a group of their supporters, some people prefer to visit the voters individually.
For example Melba Joshila Gomes in Dramapur Sirlim has visited the voters individually and only sometimes taking another person with her. Similarly, Celina Furtado in Chandor has visited all the households individually. Melba Joshila has visited all the houses twice handing over the voter card along with her manifesto for the ward and village the second time.
The Dias brothers – Agnelo and Walter – who are contesting from two different wards in Aquem Baixo panchayat have their family members and friends canvassing for them in their respective wards by visiting households.
Notwithstanding the Returning Officers’ claims that no banners would be permitted in public places, banners of various candidates can be seen by the road side in Pedda Benaulim and at Rawanfond at the end of the military camp.
In fact, Julia Fernandes a candidate in Benaulim has banners with photographs of MLA Churchill Alemao along with her picture put up at different places.
In many villages banners are fixed to vehicles of the candidates and their friends as they move around in the village thereby propagating the candidate.
No public meetings have been held so far for the panchayat elections although there are many in house meetings held where members from certain houses are called at a particular house for a meeting here the candidate meets the voters.
Unlike the assembly elections, social media is not used by the candidates in the panchayat elections although some candidates have formed WhatsApp groups linking their well wishers and advisers.
While some candidates have been giving a memento to the voters like chocolates or pen some have kept bars and taverns open for the voters where their supporters can have a drink free of cost.
