Hope, prayer and a miracle needed to breach Sudin’s fortress

Welcome to Sudin Dhavalikar’s fortress which hasn’t been breached in a long-long time. And while there are pitfalls in calling any elections, before votes are counted, any result other than a victory for Sudin Dhavalikar , will be a mother of all upsets.

And while the BJP has fielded a candidate, Pradeep Shet after the alliance with MGP collapsed, AAP’s Advocate Suresh Tilve appeared much more eager to give Dhavalikar a fight. He told Herald, “I am confident Madkai’s and Goa’s masses will give a thumbs-up to AAP’s brand of Clean and Honest politics. The era of money and muscle power is nearing an end. People here are fed up of corruption and family Raj. Sudin who is the ‘10 per-cent Zardari’ of Goan politics will meet his Waterloo on 4th of February. Marcaim’s youth will embrace AAP’s productive plans for them and we will emerge victorious.”

Marcaim constituency comprises six panchayats, including Marcaim, Kavlem, Bandora, Durbhat, Agapur, Wadi Talavlim and Kundaim. 

The major problem in Marcaim is that many locals do not have their own land and are asking the government and panchayats to pass a resolution that comunidade land be converted and given to them for building houses.

The two Industrial Estates at Kundai and Marcaim, situated close to each other, have witnessed several crimes in the past and the villagers are demanding for a police station to check the anti-social elements in the area.

The locals are agitating since one year seeking equal rights in Navdurga temple and are opposing Navdurga idol replacement issue by Mahajans. Locals Sudesh Zalmi, Aditya Gaisas and Nikhil Raikar, involved in agitation, demand equal worship rights in the temple and scrapping of discriminatory Mahajans Act and introduction of the Hindu Upasana Act.

Three decades ago there was canoe tragedy in Marcaim which is still fresh in the minds of the locals. After the tragedy a ferry service was introduced from Marcaim to Cortalim. At present the government operates two ferries on the 1.5km route. This is considered to be one of the longest and most dangerous routes since the ferries have drifted due to heavy winds. A bridge between Marcaim and Agashim is the need of the hour, say locals.

Locals also demand improvisation in facilities and appointment of more doctors in Marcaim Hospital. “Lack of facilities forces us to go to GMC,” the villagers said.

Like other Industrial estate locals also complain that they get inferior jobs. The rule to provide 80 per cent jobs to locals is not followed by the two industrial estates. Locals suggest that common education facilities and infrastructure be provided to government and aided schools. The present government, which assures of providing 50,000 jobs, should check into the two industrial industries to find out how many jobs are being given to Goans.

Sudin opposes the two bridges in Marcaim while most of the other candidates, including Independents, stressed that they will try to bring these two bridges at Marcaim-Agashim and Durbhat Agapur to the area. Sudin opposes the bridges saying that several houses as well as agricultural land will be destroyed.

Pradeep Shet candidate of BJP and Urmila Naik, Congress candidate alleged that Sudin failed to bring all round development of Marcaim for past many years.