TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: While the suspense over the candidate hit the Congress campaign in down South, BJP nominee Narendra Sawaikar is making his presence felt everywhere — partying with Navelim workers and well wishers at Sernabatim last week and interacting with party men and sympathisers in down South almost on a daily basis.
The BJP nominee has been found hopping from one Assembly segment to another in South Goa, covering as much ground as possible before launching a full fledged campaign as the D day draws near. His visits are now restricted to meetings with party men, well wishers and party sympathisers from across the constituency. Interactions with whoever that matters in politics appears his mission for the moment, before party leaders plunges themselves in a no hold barred campaign.
Take the case of Navelim. Local MLA and Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado, who has come out openly in support of Narendra Modi’s candidature for the post of Prime Minister, played host to a meeting of workers at Furtado restaurant at Sernabatim-Colva earlier this week. The meeting, which was attended by some of the sarpanchas and panch members, gave Narendra Sawaikar an opportunity to interact with the leaders and grass root workers from Navelim ahead of the poll.
Sawaikar has so far completed the interaction exercise in both Fatorda and Margao, besides Cuncolim and Navelim in minority dominated Salcete. During his visit to Margao, he and other local BJP leaders are believed to have had a meeting with the beleaguered leaders of migrant inhabited Moti Dongor slum as well.
“So far, I have had interactions with workers and party well wishers in Margao, Fatorda, Navelim and Cuncolim. My next destination will be Velim in Salcete later this week”, Sawaikar told Herald on Sunday, as he paid a visit to some prominent personalities in Vasco area on Sunday.
The BJP has received support from the Goan Seamen Association of India and the BJP candidate is expected to have a meeting with a delegation of the seafarers this week.
“I have received encouraging response from the electorate so far. I am happy over the support my candidature has received from our party men, well wishers and sympathisers”, Sawaikar added.
