TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Is the unprecedented high polling in the hinterland assembly segments of Sanvordem and Sanguem a result of the consolidation of the BJP vote? And will the huge vote will go in favour of the BJP as maintained by the party poll managers, leaving other parties and individuals, including the Congress way behind?
Well, these and other questions have come to the fore as the exceptionally high polling in these two segments – which incidentally constitute the mining belt in south Goa – has left many a political observer a confused lot, even though the BJP appeared confident of taking huge leads in these two segments over the Congress.
Incidentally, the BJP does not feel that the high voting percentage is a vote against the government over the closure of the mining activity. In fact, party South Goa candidate, Narendra Sawaikar refused to admit that the huge turnout of voters in Sanvordem and Sanguem to a consolidation of the traditional BJP vote. On the contrary, he felt the people in these two segments have come out to vote for the Parrikar government’s performance and for a stable government at the centre.
Incidentally, these two segments have given BJP poll managers the hope of a victory in South Goa given the congress’ virtual absence in Sanvordem and Sanguem. Even Congress leaders concede in private that while the BJP led by its two MLAs, Subhash Faldesai and Ganesh Gaonkar brought out people to cast their vote, the Congress had no polling agents in many a booth in the two segments.
Political analyst Adv Cleofato Coutinho says the BJP must have certainly tried to consolidate the vote in Sanvordem and Sanguem in its favour. He, however, hastened to add that the Congress should blame itself as it lacked even the bare minimum manpower to man the polling booths, leaving alone bringing out voters out on polling day.
“Yes, the Modi factor must have played a role in consolidating the BJP vote in Sanvordem and Sanguem or even in Curchorem. But, the Congress was nowhere in the picture. The party cut a sorry picture when it had no polling agents in many of the polling stations in these two segments”, he said.
BJP poll managers are of the firm opinion that a massive lead in these two segments will keep Sawaikar in good stead. They feel that along with Madkai , Ponda and Curchorem, the BJP should hopefully checkmate the Congress in Salcete, where the party expects to make some inroads in the minority pockets of the taluka.
In fact, Congress leaders admit that the unprecedented turnout in Sanvordem and Sanguem threatens to upset the party’s calculations, more so as it is feared that the major chunk may go in favour of the BJP candidate.
