Margao voters have a tough job at hand

Margao voters have a tough job at hand
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, OCT 23
Who’s supporting whom in the elections for the 20-member Margao Municipal body? That’s the question still haunting the electorate with just a week to go for the polls scheduled on October 31 as candidates of almost all hues either claim support of political parties and leaders or are being backed by whole lot of groups and leaders in the hustings.
While confusion reigns supreme vis-à-vis Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s support to his close supporters in the fray, even a cadre-based party like the BJP could not come clear in a couple of wards and is forced to support candidates certainly owing allegiance to the party.
Take the case of ward No 5, where Margao Municipal Vice Chairperson Raju Naik is locked in a triangular contest. The BJP has not fielded any candidate, and party MLA Damu Naik has extended support to the MMC vice chairperson.
What’s interesting to note here is that Raju, a couple of months ago, had officially embraced the Congress and now claims the support of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to his candidature. To wriggle out of the awkward situation, the Fatorda MLA quipped that Raju apparently is the all party candidate, which has ruffled many a feather in the Vijay Sardessai camp.
Another case in point is Ward No 19, where Carol Poinguincar, wife of builder Sandeep, is locked in a triangular battle. First, it was the Margao Loksamiti, which extended support to Carol’s candidature. The BJP followed suit by publicly declaring support to Carol.
Ward No 13 is another example. Much before the BJP could field its candidate, Leena Katkar, the Margao Loksamiti declared its support to Leena’s candidature. The BJP has asserted that Leena is the official-party back candidate, but has no problem if any group has decided to extend support to her candidature.
The Congress camp, especially in the Margao area of the Civic body, is the most hit by the confusion. With Congressmen crossing swords against congressmen with Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat allowing friendly fights, congress voters are indeed confuses who’s backing whom in the polls.
Ward No 20 is a classic example. Kamat’s strong supporters – Damu Shirodkar and Andrew Sequeira – are battling it out in the ward. Both claim support of the Chief Minister and are awaiting Kamat’s return to declare his support.
The Margao Loksamiti is supporting sitting Councilor Babita Naik in ward No 7 and has not disclosed any plans to support Babita’s husband and former councilor Sadanand Naik in the neighbouring ward No 6.
Some of the candidates are even claiming support of the Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao and his elder brother, PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao to their candidature.