In a wafer-thin majority of just 1069 votes, the BJP managed to retain the Panjim seat, the bastion of former MLA Manohar Parrikar who has represented the seat for nearly 25 years. Parrikar vacated it for Sidharth Kunkolienkar in 2014 post his elevation as union defence minister. For last over two decades, winning in Panjim has been a cakewalk for BJP, making this seat a thing of pride. However, the February 4 election gave clear indication that it is no more an easy task for Sidharth.
Panjim is constituency No. 11 of Goa Legislative Assembly with 21,300 registered voters. Being the home constituency of former Chief Minister and also the capital of the state, this seat is very important. Winning here will reflect the party’s status in the state. Whoever may rule the State but since 1994, this constituency has been ruled by the saffron party.
With United Goan Party’s Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate stepping into Panjim, there were several speculations drawn on whether BJP would manage to retain their ‘pride’. After ruling Taleigao and St Cruz constituencies, Monserrate played his biggest gamble entering Panjim. He has been ‘uncrowned’ king of City Corporation of Panaji (CCP), which is currently ruled by his panel.
Kunkolienkar managed to get lead in the first round of counting, but in the second round Monserrate came up as winner. But ultimately it was BJP who emerged victor winning the third round with a margin of 1069 votes – where Gaud Saraswat Brahmin plays a significant role as a vote bank.
It is interesting to note that Kunkalienkar, Parrikar’s right-hand man, won the 2015 by-election defeating Congress’ Surendra Furtado by 5,368 votes.
“With Monserrate stepping in, it looked difficult for the party to gain victory. But it was bhai (Parrikar) who boosted our moral. It was he, who approached the loyal BJP karyakartas who were upset with Sidharth, for their support. If it was not bhai, it would have been difficult for BJP,” a BJP worker said.
In the run up to the election, Parrikar held several public meetings and breakfast sessions in his constituency, campaigning for Kunkalienkar.
It was Parrikar, who through his political game plan, had made Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) Raju Sukelkar to withdraw from the fray since he (Sukelkar) would have otherwise proved a major barrier in the BJP’s victory. GSM candidate Dr Ketan Bhatikar managed to gain only 323 votes.
Monserrate’s camp blames AAP candidate Valmiki Naik for their leader’s defeat. Valmiki fetched 1944 votes, Kunkaliencar polled 7924, with Monserrate getting 6865. The others in the fray were Dominic Fernandes (NCP, 62), Dilip Ghadi (Independent, 36) and Parshuram Dodamani (Independent,20). There were 175 NOTA votes.
“AAP divided Babush’s votes or else we would have created history. We feel AAP and BJP joined hands to ensure Babush defeat,” said a close aide of Monserrate.
Monserrate, a former Congress MLA, who has also served as Education minister, had vowed to wrest the Panjim seat from the BJP, claiming the capital city lacked development for the last two decades owing to Parrikar’s mis-governance and neglect.
Out of the 30 Civic body wards, Monserrate has 17 wards with him, while BJP rules on 13.
