VELIM: Benjamin Silva has dabbled with football literally from the time he could walk. Cradles by the river Sal, Velim is what a quintessential Goan village is all about – fish and football. The young and lanky Banjo (Benjamin Silva) remembers playing football from the time he could walk and run, ultimately playing as a defender for the Salcete football club and then going onto his glory days of playing for Goa in the nationals.
Now he is navigating the political turf of Velim for TMC and it is a different ball game altogether. He isn’t new to this game though having contested three times and winning the set in 2012 as an independent, post which he supported the BJP. That decision cost him his seat the next time with his votes dropping from high 13,000 to half. With TMC, he hopes to firmly get over the fact that many of his voters did not appreciate his move to support a BJP government. “I have understood and learned a lot,” said Silva.
One of his learnings would be that in this multi-pronged contest it is important to keep his own vote base of voters who are firmly with him intact. Silva appears to have that cushion.
“The problems of fisherfolk, the issue of LED lights and big trawlers taking away our sigh, pollution on the river Sal, improving the facilities at the Cutbona jetty are local issues of importance. With every party including the BJP having fielded a candidate, few of his football skills should come into action as he defends his turn from other parties. He also needs to dribble past all to scores his second political goal in his fourth attempt. He has virtually the same set of principal opponents as Filipe Nery Rodrigues and Cruz Silva. Rodrigues’ joining the BJP has earned him the politically damaging title of “Defector”, which is helping Benjamin Silva, who did not actually join the BJP post the 2012 elections
The constituency begins with Chinchinim, Dramapur, and Sarzora with its seafarers, and across the River Sal are Assolna and Velim, synonymous with Liberation struggle history and many freedom fighters, while the remaining constituency has parts of Sao Jose de Areal and Dicarpale.
But long-term issues remain the same — better road connectivity, accident-free roads, a hospital or health center in the villages, continuous electricity supply and new roads.
Benjamin was the sarpanch of Amelim village panchayat for two years in his tenure Ambelim panchayat commercial project came in 2007. As this campaign draws to a close and the long whistle signalling the end of campaigning in a few hours from now, Benjamin Silva is hoping that he will manage to net that winning Goal. Khela Hobe, as someone should teach Benjamin to say.
