TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: With just eight days to go for the April 12 Lok Sabha poll, it’s advantage Congress in the south Goa Lok Sabha constituency, with the party further consolidating its position in its borough in a bid to retain the seat for the third time in a row.
Congress’ strategy to put across the message that the ongoing battle is a battle between secularism and communalism seems to have percolated down to the electorate well, especially in the minority pockets of south Goa. Party men exuded confidence that the diktat issued by the Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi to support the Congress in the ensuing Lok Sabha poll, would help the party garner majority of the 50,000 Muslim vote spread across south Goa.
As things stand today, the BJP is expected to do well in its traditional strongholds of Madkai and Sanvordem, followed by Ponda, Shiroda and Sanguem and pockets in Mormugao taluka. The party, however, faces a tough battle ahead to put its act together to repeat its assembly performance in Curchorem and Canacona segments. The ground reality does not augur well for the BJP in Quepem segment as the stakes appears down for it in this constituency.
This time, the BJP has made a a determined bid to make deep inroads into the minority stronghold of Salcete. The BJP leadership is hoping for multiple splits and micro level splits in some segments, where the party has little or no following. This is particularly true in the segments of Benaulim and Curtorim and to some extent in Navelim and Cuncolim. The party is also banking on the Goa Vikas Party MLAs to garner votes for party candidate Narendra Sawaikar in Benaulim and Nuvem.
Political analysts, however, say the BJP is not sure of taking a lead in any of the eight assembly segments in Salcete, though the Margao unit of the BJP is exuding confidence of performing well in Margao this time. This situation has left the BJP with no option than to hope and pray that the Churchill factor will cause a split in the secular vote to indirectly benefit the party candidate.
Analysts feel that the BJP will find it extremely difficult to regain the seat if its strategy of multiple splits in the secular vote fails to bring dividends, especially against the backdrop of the consolidation of the minority vote towards the Congress candidate. The Congress has to a large extent succeeded in painting Churchill Alemao’s election campaign as an attempt to split the secular vote. That the Congress has now trained its guns at the Trinamool Congress candidate indicates that the party has positioned itself for a final assault to demolish the players fighting to occupy the secular space in the constituency.
Political observers say the last few days will be crucial for both the Congress and the BJP as they jostle to reach out to the nooks and corners of the constituency.
