CORTALIM, JAN 1
Displaying of banners, card boards with messages and pictures of politicians, is a common sight during the festival season.
Cortalim assembly constituency too had its share of politicians including its MLA Mauvin Godinho greeting people on Christmas. But what has struck the people’s eye is the banners displaying BJP leaders with a local Panch Anthony Vaz in Cortalim constituency.
While rumours are rife that BJP would field its candidate in the coming hustings after having lent support to Matanhy Saldanha in the last election, what has perplexed the voters is whether BJP would field Vaz only to give a back door entry for Saldanha.
Admittedly one of the reasons for Godinho’s defeat in 2002 elections was the anti-incumbency wave. Other reason which also contributed to his defeat, was the large chunk of Godinho’s vote especially the ST community which was polled by Vaz who belongs to the ST community. Vaz polled around 4700 votes in the 2002 elections.
In fact, the BJP as a gratitude to Saldanha for his unflinching support to the saffron party had not fielded a candidate in Cortalim constituency and went all out to support Saldanha. But despite the BJP’s support and being a sitting MLA having a stint as minister as well in the BJP-led government, Saldanha lost the elections.
Saldanha who is habituated in contesting elections is likely to try his luck for this coming election also, given the fact that the constituency has been delimitated with Bogmalo and Chicalim panchayats forming part of newly carved Dabolim constituency. However, his base in other parts of the constituency is also not all that good given the fact Jose M Furtado, the ZP candidate to whom he pledged support lost even in his stronghold of Ramponkar-dominated Dando in Pale-Velsao.
Vaz who is also a sitting panch when contacted said that he has been told by the State top party brass to start activities in the constituency.
“I have been told to begin movement in the constituency, although there has been no talk on the question of contesting election,” Vaz told Herald.
Vaz was however not committal on his stand if the party denied him a ticket.
State BJP President Laxmikant Parsekar however was not answering his cell phone when contacted for comments.
What could make a major difference this time around is Mickky Pacheco’s threat to go in a big way and even field candidates in all 40 constituencies.
While his plans to field candidates in all constituencies would be illusionary, the fact remains that he has made an impact in Cortalim constituency having total control over Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim Panchayat.
But despite Mickky’s hold over the panchayat, Mauvin’s victorious candidate Cynthia D’Silva who although hails from Cortalim polled significant numbers of votes in areas of Cansaulim panchayat, thereby indicating that mere hold over panchayats would not necessarily translate into votes.
