There’s just one question, will Churchill win or lose?

NESHWIN ALMEIDA

neshwin@herald-goa.com

Which constituency doesn’t have issues and for the record Benaulim does. But with less than the days to go before polling, it is just plain hard politics, which is the only issue.

And in Benaulim, these elections revolve around one man, and one question. Will the Varca strongman, Churchill Alemao ride the waves again? Will sentiment and nostalgia get the old warhorse back in the assembly? Will his long time associate and friend Maria Rebello, cleverly fielded by BJP’s front, the GVP, damage him by splitting his core votes, Or will the new political kid on the Assembly election block, Royella Fernandes, tap into the silent young vote and make a sweeping change and finally will the ex darling of Benaulim, Congress find some space

Seven politicians are fighting for the Benaulim seat, including Churchill Alemao, Edwin Barreto, and the sitting MLA Caitu Silva who has quit the Goa Vikas Party and is contesting as Independent.

Caitu Silva was the surprise of 2012, when Valanka Alemao was the first of the Alemaos to lose her wicket and finally Team Alemao in that election saw fall of 4 wickets for a score of none. The man returned from the oil riggs and had the support of Mickky Pacheco who moved base to Nuvem taking Betalbatim, Utorda and Majorda with him and leaving the Benaulim turf of Cavelossim, Mobor, Trinity, Colva, Sernabatim, Varca, Orlim and Zalor beach for Caitu to play his politics.

This time after over fifteen years, Benaulim’s got the senior Alemao, Churchill Alemao looking to make a comeback. This time it’s not the hand symbol of the aero plane but Churchill chose to get a clock ticking for him with Sharad Pawar’s NCP party. While his daughter is a silent spectator in all his campaign, not speaking a word after the 2012 polls revealed that people voted out Valanka because her alleged rude behaviour.

Caitu has parted ways with Mickky but is also not the candidate of his former party Goa Vikas Party which is headed by Lyndon Monteiro. Caitu like Avertano and Benjamin has decided to be the third sitting MLA in Xaxti to ride solo.

Mickky’s got one his once arch rival John Fernandes to switch sides from Churchill towards him and contest on his new political affiliation, the Goa Suraj party.

Maria Rebello, once friend and loyalist of Churchill, has parted ways with him and decided to contest on a GVP ticket after being denied a Congress ticket and is all set to debut in a MLA election. 

Activist Judith Almeida after backing of many Goans and Non-resident Goans decided to throw her hat in the ring; denied a ticket in 2012, hotelier Edwin Barreto has been rewarded for his loyalty and Luizinho Faleiro ensured that Edwin was given a ticket and no alliance was sought with NCP.

While being campaigned by Arvind Kejrival himself, as the AAP candidate, former Benaulim Panchayat sarpanch and also daughter of former Benaulim Sarpanch, Royla Clarina Fernandes has managed to woo the fishermen community to support her candidature.

It’ll be an interesting fight, without a doubt and evenly matched on the gender front too with three ladies fighting each her as well as their seasoned male opponents.