Navelim ZP bypoll: A matter of prestige!

NAVELIM: The Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections are generally of little importance to the political arena, but the Navelim ZP bypoll has become a prestigious battle for the ruling BJP government as well as the opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the State.  
Though peaceful with a very low voter turnout in the morning at almost all the polling stations, the Navelim ZP bypoll on Saturday evoked sharp reactions from three candidates namely Matilda Silva, Adv Pratima Coutinho and Independent Edwin ‘Cipru’ Cardozo against the national parties such as BJP and Congress, respectively of allegedly distributing money, using intimidation, campaigning beyond the scheduled period and using it’s dirty tricks department, respectively to defeat and defame their political opponents.
However, they have not complained to the State Election Commissioner (SEC) or the police regarding the unethical and unfair pressure tactics being used against them claiming that it would be futile as the authorities are biased to the ruling government.  
Silva said she along with the Coutinho had complained to the election authorities of the biased behaviour of the BLO (Booth Level Officer) appointed at the polling station near the St Peter and Paul Chapel at Mandopa-Navelim ward and ensured that the BLO was removed in the evening.
Coutinho said, “This ZP bypoll has become worse than the MLA or MP elections because dirty politics has been played. The focus of the BJP team is on this Navelim ZP bypoll throughout the day and night with Pratima being their target but I have reposed faith in the people who will give me the mandate. As they will think what Pratima has done and for whom she is suffering and for whom she has got cases today, so I think people should give the mandate for the hard work that I have done.”
“I am not overconfident but something tells me that ‘Pratima, you will win!’ Till late last night, the BJP leaders especially the Deputy Chief Minister was present in Mandopa ward. From CM to deputy CM, BJP leaders, even the ‘B’ team as I have called (the Benaulim NCP MLA) Churchill Alemao, all have been working till now. There is use of muscle power, money power and threatening phone calls being made stating that we had provided employment to your children who will be removed from service. There is a lot of pressure put on the people who are receiving a lot of phone calls. They have gone to such an extent telling people that if you do not want for the kamal (lotus) then you can stay at home or don’t go for voting. I am getting this feedback. The CM and both the deputy CMs – Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar and Manohar ‘Babu’ Ajgaonkar have distributed a lot of money in Mandopa ward and the Muslim area, respectively with Churchill making phone calls to the voters,” she alleged.
“The BJP’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams are out to split the Catholic votes to benefit BJP but Navelim ZP voters are wise and I have faith in them and God, too,” she added.
Expressing confidence of creating a hat-trick by winning the ZP by-elections with a thumping majority, Navelim ZP member Cardozo claimed that AAP, Congress and BJP have targeted him though he had not spoken against anyone during his election campaign merely relying upon presenting his ‘report card’ of his performance as the ZP member to his voters.
“The ZP elections are small elections with the voters of all four village panchayats of Navelim, Telaulim, Sirlim-Dramapur and Sarzora aware of the works that I have undertaken, besides the fact that I am an Independent candidate not aligned to any political party be it BJP, Congress, AAP or any other political party. On the eve of the by-election, Congress workers have thrown thousands of handbills written on a purported BJP letterhead but unsigned by the roadside in these four panchayats claiming that I am joining BJP when there is already a BJP candidate Satyavjiay Naik contesting this bypoll’” Cardozo said.
“Earlier, the AAP had tried to target me through the social media regarding the deplorable condition of two toilets built by the national highway and the bunds in the villages that one is very well aware cannot be constructed through the meagre funds provided by the South Goa ZP,” Cardozo said.
Interestingly, the unsigned letter dated 03-03-2021 typed on the “Bharatiya Janata Party Goa Pradesh” with the address of the BJP’s headquarters states, ‘The upcoming Navelim ZP elections is crucial for the party. CIPRU had always been a valuable member to us who supported us in various capacities in the Zilla Parishad. In return of this camaraderie, we need to support him in this crucial fight. Hence, we should put our force behind CIPRU to ensure his victory. It is also decided that, CIPRU will be formally inducted into BJP after he emerges victorious. Our voters must be informed that a vote to CIPRU is a vote for BJP and Swayampurna Goa.’
Moreover, although the BJP candidate Satyavijay Naik had claimed that the former fisheries minister and former Navelim Independent MLA Avertano Furtado was campaigning for BJP. But Furtado was firmly backing Cardozo who he had backed in the past, too.