MARGAO: The electorate on Thursday have shown the doors of exit to the four defectors from the Salcete Taluka, wherein the political heavyweight from this taluka namely TMC candidate for Benaulim Constituency Churchill Alemao, Deputy Chief Minister Manohar alias Babu Ajgaonkar, besides BJP’s Damu Naik have lost the elections miserably.
The four defectors from Salcete include Wilfred D’Sa (Nuvem), Filipe Neri Rodrigues (Velim), Manohar alis Babu Ajgaonkar (Margao) and Clafacio Dias (Cuncolim). At the same time, Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant alias Babu Kavlekar lost against Congress candidate Eltone D’Costa. It was a clear message from the voters that they are not in favour of defection any more.
Counting for the 21 constituencies of South Goa began half an hour late in Margao. And adding to that EVM machines faults were reported in Nuvem and Navelim. The results of Ponda and Navelim constituencies were delayed due to the re-counting.
The BJP supporters were noticed in large numbers at the counting centre, whereas hardly anyone noticed with the Congress flag. It was a flag of the saffron party flying high since the beginning of counting in Margao.
It is pertinent to note that the people were eagerly waiting for the results of defectors in the Assembly elections and voters have shown the place to all four defectors of Salcete their place.
In Nuvem, Wilfred D’Sa was nowhere in the winning positions since the counting of round one. It was former minister and Congress leader Aleixo Sequeira leading all the rounds with a comfortable margin.
While in Velim, AAP candidate Cruz Silva (5,390) changed the whole equation of this constituency by defeating Congress candidate Savio D’Silva (5221) and former minister Filipe Neri Rodgriues (3420), besides TMC candidate Benjamin Silva (4234). Degley Fernandes of RG pulled 3,653 votes.
Cuncolim Constituency showed another big blow to BJP candidate Clafacio Dias (6,632), who was very much confident of his victory. He was defeated by the Congress candidate Yuri Alemao (9,866) with a big margin. AAP candidate Prashant Naik (906) and TMC candidate Dr Jorson Fernandes (1,282) would not do much damage to the Yuri.
Benaulim Constituency witnessed big shock to TMC candidate Churchill Alemao (5,140), wherein AAP candidate Captain Venzy Viegas won by 6,411 votes.
As expected, Congress candidate Digambar Kamat (13,674) won with a margin of 7,794 votes, as Deputy Chief Minister Manohar alias Babu Ajgaonkar (5,880) lost very badly. Even in 2017, BJP candidate Sharmad Raiturkar had pulled 7,929 votes.
A three times MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has created history by winning continuously for the fourth term, as he pulled 8,960 votes, despite shifting the political parties within a short span of time. Congress candidate Moreno Rebello was able to pull only 3,905 votes, despite Congress national leader Rahul Gandhi campaigning for him in Curtorim.
In Nuvem, Congress candidate Aleixo Sequeira pulled 8,745 votes and won the elections. Wilfred got only 2,961 while Mickky Pacheco pulled 2,073 and TMC candidate Jose Cabral 1,718 votes.
Navelim BJP Ulhas Tuenkar was a big shocker to all, as he defeated all the three candidates of national parties such as Valanka Alemao (TMC- 4,738), Avertano Furtado (Congress-3,806), and AAP Adv Pratima Coutinho (2,327). He won with a margin of 530 votes. He had made history in this constituency with this win, as this constituency is considered as Catholic dominated one.
In Fatorda, Goa Forward Party Vijai Sardesai won the election for the third term, as he pulled 11,063 votes. BJP candidate Damu Naik was able to pull 9,536 votes and TMC candidate Adv Seoula Vas got only 635 votes.
