Will political turn-coat Mauvin be a ballot hit?
NAVIN JHA
On Republic Day, BJP Candidate Mauvin Godinho phone was switched off during his daily prayer. This is his daily ritual before he goes out for day-to-day campaign. A devout Catholic who is the face of saffron party in Dabolim constituency has not lost the popularity despite changing the political hat which was clearly visible through the stream of visitors as supporters that continued thronging his house at Upasnagar. It was 7.30 am when Godinho came out of his bedroom and shared breakfast with the visitors, later, he discussed campaign strategy of the day, took feedback from core group and sharp at 8.30 am, he along with his supporters left for the campaigning in New Vaddem locality.
Though Godinho wanted to utilize the Republic Day holiday by directly kick-starting his campaigning, however, due to some interview, he had to rush to his office in New Vaddem and around 9am, they started campaign with the aim to knock on maximum number of doors as possible. “With the blessings of my well-wishers, the issue of old ligament rupture has not bogged me down this time. I have been walking four to five hours a day and the response I am getting is overwhelming and tremendous. Like every house I visit, literary one person comes out from the house to join me in my house to house visit and other visit. It finally culminates in a corner meeting” Godinho said while campaigning in narrow lane of New Vaddem locality. At 1.15 pm they took a break for lunch and after 3. 30 pm started door to door again which later culminated at about 8.30pm.
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AAP’s Vasant Naik is up against time
Former ZP member and Present Panch Member Vasant Naik who is contesting from Dabolim seat on AAP ticket had decided to leave early in the morning for campaigning. However, the moment he came out of his house at 7 am, he remembered as a Panch member his presence at Panchayat office is required for republic day celebration. Taking excuse from his supporters Naik rushed to Panchayat and after the Tricolour hoisting ceremony, he rushed to the residential area behind cottage hospital at Chicalim where AAP volunteers and his supporters were waiting to start door to door campaigning which completed only at 8 in the evening with short lunch break in between. “I don’t even realize how much distance I walk in a day, but surely I don’t miss any house during my door to door campaigning in any particular area. Today when I met the people at Chicalim, they assured me of full support and this trend is all over constituency which makes me feel that I will win elections with high margin” Naik said.
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MGP’s Nanoskar has a tough job
For Premanand Nanoskar, forthcoming assembly polls is not less than a battle ground and thus he has been leaving no stone unturned to reach out to maximum number of voters. Last time it was BJP and MGP supporters (2012 alliance partner) jointly worked for him and he lost with narrow margin, but this time situation is different, because saffron party has fielded own candidate, thus having no option left, Nanoskar and his supporters have been working rigorously from early morning till late in night campaigning for Nanoskar.
On Thursday morning, before starting his campaign, Nanoskar offered prayers and left his house at 10 am along with 70 odd supporters to meet the voters residing behind police quarters in Chicalim. After walking for over 2 hours under hot sun, they all decided to take some rest under the tree and after having some snacks, moved ahead to knock on the doors of voters.
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Young candidates use AGE as EDGE
Congress candidate Francisco Nunes who is a popular leader of Chicalim village has been campaigning tension-free and with cool mind. His day starts early morning and ends in the evening. Though he was announced as the Congress candidate trifle late, Nunes has managed to cover most of Dabolim constituency. “I have no doubt that the people who had voted for Congress last time will again vote for me and the Congress will form the government,” Nunes said. NCP candidate Kritesh Gaonkar, Niz Goenkar Revolution Front party candidate Suresh Barve, and three independent candidates, including Kenneth Silveira, Preetam Keluskar and Tara Kerkar too have been campaigning rigorously and have been receiving good support. Kerkar has women power that works with her throughout the day and night, while as young candidates Keluskar and Silveira have missed no opportunity to convince people as to why change is required and why they were the best among all contestants in fray.
