TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The united show put up by BJP leaders in contrast to the visible differences within the Congress party is likely to be one of the reasons for the victory BJP in both the constituencies.
As the D-Day of April 12 is approaching faster, the meticulous campaign by the BJP has managed to overtake the controversy and faction ridden show put up by the Congress party. The suspension of youth Congress activists and dissolution of two blocks – Dabolim and Cuncolim has been a reason behind discouraging the party cadres from working for their candidates.
On the other hand, BJP’s Shripad Naik in North and Narendra Sawaikar in South Goa have completed two rounds of their campaigning and reached all the households with the manifesto.
The party has two fold campaigning covering all the booths in both the constituencies. “What went in our favour was that we had announced our candidates much before the elections were declared. The party had no dissidents and both the candidates were well accepted by the cadres,” a senior party leader said.
While Shripad Naik has been in the hearts of North Goa people, Sawaikar has been regularly working with the cadres despite he losing the polls last time. This lawyer-politician has also been instrumental in helping several hundred people in the constituency through government schemes.
The Parrikar-led government’s performance for last two years, which was in stark contradiction to the corruption-ridden government of Congress, has also been giving additional mileage to the party.
Parrikar himself has toured all the assembly constituencies and is on the spree to address public meetings where people get to interact with him face to face. The confidence in the government has also been increasing after these meetings.
“People turn to us with suggestions after the meeting. They react to the manifesto, they discuss the points in it and give us additional inputs,” Parrikar told reporters in Panjim.
The manifesto which promises for the legal mining, special status, solution for the dual citizenship issue has also been overwhelming accepted by the people.
The Congress party on the other hand remains divided. Congress’ North Goa Candidate Ravi Naik has admitted that he does not head and tail about what is written in the manifesto, and also does not support special status.
On Thursday, Naik was found arguing with the mediapersons on why does Goa need Special Status. He said that the Special Status will stop people from selling their lands. Naik’s stand comes as a shock for voters, who find Congress reducing further to almost a non political entity.
In south Goa, the high pitch campaign launched by Congress candidate Aleixo Lourenco Reginaldo has been pricked by his own party men. The candidate is finding himself alone with only independent legislator Vijay Sardesai to roam around with.
Salcete which was citadel of Congress till 2012 slipped away from their hand during state legislative assembly election and now the increasing presence of BJP or legislators supporting BJP has literally seen Congress struggling to get hold on this taluka.
Goa Vikas Party’s support has come as a major boost for the BJP who is finding increasing acceptance amongst the Christian community.
Deep in South, the tribals have also found BJP candidate acceptable as they have seen him struggling for their rights during oppressive Congress government. Tribal leaders like Ramesh Tawadkar have also fuelled the campaign of the party in South Goa.
The mining belt has undoubtedly been with BJP due to the state government’s schemes and future plans to waive off debt of those dependent on the mining industry. Goa government has already appealed before the Supreme Court to allow roll back the money collected from e-auctioning of illegally extracted ore for the welfare of the people. The people in this belt are finding themselves close to BJP which supported them during their time of crisis.
