Team Herald
Cortalim: The double-tracking issue which was highly expected to make an impact on the Zilla Panchayat election in the Cortalim constituency surprisingly took a back seat. Many people said that they voted for the performance and for the individual considering his past performance and personality of the candidate. People completely deny any role or impact of the double track issue over ZP election.
It was expected that the ongoing burning issue of the doubling of railway track especially in the areas such as Velsao, Cansaulim, Issorcim, Cortalim etc would play a decisive role on the victory of the ZP candidates but to the surprise of many, the doubling-track issue seemed to have fizzled out in context to the ZP election.
When contacted some prominent personalities from Cortalim constituency including the three candidates, all clearly said that double tracking issue has in no way played any decisive role in Zilla Panchayat election.
Lopinho Xavier, Congress candidate for ZP said double-tracking issue has not played any role in ZP election. The voting pattern of Arossim, Cansaulim which was very low. People have not come for voting. I have been attending meetings and opposing double tracking whereas Antonio Vas, the winning Independent candidate, has not made any public appearance in such meetings. If people wanted to protect their interest then they would have voted for me i.e, the Congress.
Pobris Vaz, AAP candidate for ZP stated that the double-tracking issue has not played any role. People have succumbed to money. Major villages like Velsao and Cansaulim appears to have supported the pro-coal and pro-double tracking lobby. What did Antonio Vas do to oppose double tracking and coal transportation? One must come on the ground and oppose.
Antonio Vas, the winner, however, was quick to claim that he is with the people of Cortalim constituency and therefore he is also against double-tracking. He also claimed that he attended several public meetings against the double-tracking but chose to remain low profile amidst people. When asked whether double tracking in any way has played role in ZP election, to this Vas replied that there was no impact of the double-tracking issue on the ZP election and people voted him on the basis of his performance.
Jose Maria Furtado, Sarpanch of Cansaulim said although the double-tracking issue is related to many Goans but for Zilla panchayat election this issue doesn’t effect and people voted for the candidate who has got the capacity to undertake their works. People have faith in Vas and therefore people voted him. Vas even supported the people’s cause by opposing double-tracking and attended public meetings with people against double tracking.
Henrique Dmello, Sarpanch of Velsao stated that for ZP election there was no impact of double-tracking issue. People did not bring double-tracking issue in between and voted gor Vas as an individual looking at his nature and personality.
Raymond D’Sa, Cortalim panch said that double-tracking has not played any decisive role in the ZP election and Vas got elected as he has done several works as a ZP member in the villages.
“The Congress candidate Lopinho Xavier and AAP candidate Pobris Vaz have contested elections several times but have never got elected whereas, Antonio Vas has got elected to the ZP twice and has got experience,” D’Sa added.
