MARGAO: The low voters’ turnout in various parts of Salcete has become a reason for worry for the local leaders, most of who have jumped over to the BJP from Congress Party.
However, the leaders say they are confident of their candidates winning the elections as they claim that the issues that were talked of just before the elections have been put to rest by the government and the Chief Minister.
Was it the anti-incumbency against the Zilla Parishad, or was it the lack of hope in ZPs, was it the anger against the BJP government or the coal and double-tracking issues that prevailed in the ZP election? The answers lie in the ballot boxes. However, the MLAs from Salcete have their own versions to tell.
Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias said that the issues of coal and double-tracking that rocked the State for the last several months have been put to rest by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant by assuring that the government will reduce and close the coal operations.
“People have faith in the Chief Minister and 90 per cent of the people of my constituency will support the BJP candidates,” he said and added that the low voters’ turnout is nothing to do with the government.
Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa said that he is confident his candidates will win all three seats of Colva, Raia, and Nuvem under Nuvem Constituency. “People don’t see the party symbol in Nuvem. They see the person, who is representing them. Congress was defeated several times,” he reminded.
He said that the coal agitation won’t have any effect on the people and their voting.
“There was little time to distribute voter slips and create awareness due to public holidays and weekends,” D’Sa said.
As the voters’ turnout during the first half of the day gave nervous moments for the leaders of Salcete, Churchill Alemao however said that he is confident that he will reign over the seats he has contested.
“I can’t force people to come out and neither has directed my workers to ask people to come out to vote. People will vote and vote in the favour of my candidates,” said Churchill.
“People are not coming out due to COVID-19 Pandemic fear,” he added.
