TEAM HERALD
VASCO/CORTALIM: It was the ‘Almirah’ that secured the two valuable seats of Cortalim and Sancoale ZP constituencies in Mormugao taluka, pushing the BJP-MGP alliance to the third and fourth places, respectively.
While independent candidate Anthony Vaz stamped his authority in Cortalim ZP constituency, Sancoale panch from Zuari Nagar and Independent candidate Gilbert Mariano Rodrigues romped home victorious in Sancoale ZP seat.
The counting started at Bhute-Bhat Sports Complex at 8 am and was completed by 1.30 pm.
The influence of Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho, which was expected to play a crucial role in both Cortalim and Sancoale ZP constituencies, fell below expectations and did not find much acceptance with the voters for the ZP elections.
Godinho, who pledged his support to Mariano Rodrigues, could not give him a lead in Chicalim, while in Bogmalo too, independent candidate Cintia D’Silva got a narrow lead.
Both Chicalim and Bogmalo form part of Dabolim assembly constituency of which Godinho is the MLA.
Expressing disappointment over the result of Cortalim ZP constituency, Cortalim Mandal Block General Secretary Joel Fernandes blamed the controversial statements made recently by the fringe elements within the BJP for the defeat.
“Apart from the controversial statements, money power too played an important role in the victory. Also the support from Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho did not have much impact,” Fernandes told Herald.
When asked to comment on former Cortalim Block President Tulshidas Naik’s allegations that Cortalim MLA and minister Alina should own moral responsibility for the loss of both the Cortalim and Sancoale ZP candidates and resign from the cabinet, Fernandes shot back saying that Naik was a rebel candidate who had opposed the BJP-MGP alliance.
Earlier, Tulshidas Naik told Herald that BJP had conceded the Sancoale seat to MGP because Saldanha wanted Sancoale panch Narayan G Naik or former Sancoale sarpanch Maruti Desai to be the candidate for Sancoale Zilla. Naik also accused Saldanha of supporting Mariano Rodrigues who had won the Sancoale Zilla seat.
Denying the allegations, Saldanha said Naik had the habit of twisting the facts. “If he was a true BJP man why did he lose, and what has been his contribution to the BJP?” “Has he ever performed as the BJP Block president and ever contributed to the organisational work of the BJP?” Saldanha asked and added that she
had even addressed meetings in support of MGP candidate Aparna Naik. Saldanha, however, attributed the defeat of Cortalim seat to money power.
