Team Herald
CUMBARJUA: TMC candidate from Cumbarjua, Samil Volvoikar faces challenge from social activist Rajesh Faldessai, who is Congress party candidate and Janita Pandurang Madkaikar from BJP, wife of former minister and incumbent MLA of Cumbarjua Pandurang Madkaikar. But he is unfazed.
“When it comes to elections, everyone has right to contest. I don’t think there is anything called as strong candidate. A candidate’s strength is known when the people vote for him or her. I have been working in this constituency for more than 20 years and have built a very good relation with my voters in all these years,” Volvoikar told Herald TV.
He said that he is getting very good response from his constituents, especially the youth and women.
Volvoikar was earlier executive committee member of the BJP’s North Goa District Committee and worked closely with Pandurang Madkaikar, whose wife is now his main opponent as Volvoikar has joined TMC.
“I am getting overwhelming response from the people. I am confident they will vote for me. As far as contesting against one-time ally is concerned, in politics you have to start the political career by supporting some leader or the other. I have been a part of the BJP team and was responsible for handling the political administration of Cumbarjua constituency. That experience is going to be very handy here. Moreover, nearly 70 per cent of the team of incumbent MLA is now with me. With their support and experience along with many stalwarts of my constituency joining me, I think it would be an easy win for me,” he said.
When asked why should people vote for TMC, Volvoikar said that earlier Congress was the only option available before people against BJP.But all over India, the Congress doesn’t appear to be serious enough in fighting elections.
“In 2017 they had 17 MLAs. Now they have only two. The traditional voters of Congress party have lost its faith. They feel that they vote for Congress candidates and they join BJP. So, during my door-to-door campaign, I can see that people are now looking at TMC and not Congress as an option which can take on BJP. This is a positive sign for me,” the veteran activist said.
Some of the local residents supporting Volvoikar had positive impressions about their candidate. According to them he provided help to the locals here during the turbulent times of COVID in these two years. They also said that TMC’s promises like the Griha Laxmi card will prove very helpful for the women. They expressed faith in the abilities of Volvoikar and wished for his success as he is a “helpful and well-educated person”.
