MARGAO: As campaigning for the municipal polls came to an end and the aspirants were cooling their heels on Saturday evening, government officials took centre-stage as they started setting up their polling booths and security barricades to be ready for Sunday.
The last week has got everybody involved in the election. Fr Vincent Leitao, St Joaquim Chapel, Borda, has been preaching to vote for a change and to vote out communal faces. The priest at Grace Church Margao, Priest at Holy Spirit Church led by Fr Avinash Rebelo and the priest at St Sebastian Chapel, Aquem have a similar message.
While the head priest at the Lord Damodar Temple is busy receiving Digambar Kamat, Vijai Sardesai and hoards of candidates who kick started their campaign only after rolling out an offering and eating prasad at the temple. Muslim leaders from Malbhat and Moti Dongor areas have been busy campaigning for candidates supported by the MLAs while distributing sharbath of falooda and cut apples after political corner meetings.
The previous candidates or councilors, either sitting or ex-councillors, all have some tinge of corruption. For example in one ward the three candidates are all running illegal Chinese kiosks and bars beyond their licence hours while a new face propped up has good educational background and in constituencies like this it’s easy to make a decision.
“Here it’s about supporting a new face and we’re also promoting a new face. We have a ST candidate here. The BJP delimitation wants to split the SC, ST, OBC and general Catholic vote bank while their behind the scenes campaign is hectic and works on their same strategy of how they won assembly polls where one individual has to influence five voters,” explains Seby Pereira who has put his small kiosk business aside to play a big role in deciding poll results in Ward 09.
But in a distant Moti Dongor between Tolzansor and Moti Dongor’s eastern wing, the boys are unperturbed about elections on the eve of it. They don’t know what a new face or new candidate will bring to the table. They have seen no change in infrastructure for over 20 years accept for some money exchanging hands before any poll.
“We’ve been fooled and politicized for everyone’s benefit. There’s nothing provided. No rehabilitation, no upgradation of sanitation, no legalization of homes, no proper sewage and garbage disposal but everyone makes promises. Unless someone shows us a difference, we can’t trust mere candidates along,” explains Asif Jaffar on the Lamani section of the Moti Dongor.
Far across in Chandrawaddo, its poll beats and music blaring from the BJP van with Damu Naik’s cutout on these goods carrier rickshaws campaigning for his candidates while Vijai Sardesai has his own Fatorda Forward signages with a LED display output.
“Vijai Sardesai has been himself has been coming for corner meetings and discussed how we should vote out any elements from the current government that failed to curb religious insanity,” asserted Jolly Baptista from Fatorda area.
A lot of animosity and bad blood runs while Digambar Kamat campaigns but his staunch supporters have still not deserted him, allowing him to come up and make an appearance.
