Campaigning in the five assembly constituencies which officially commenced on 19th May, 2005 ( the last date of withdrawal ) came to an end on 31st May,2005. The intervening period until the day of reconing 2.6.2005 June 2005 will be filled with lies lies and more lies by each of the aspirants. The voter should be aware.
This writer covered the five constituencies interacting with some of the candidates their electoral agents the party office bearers and some voters to ascertain the electoral prospects of the candidates in the fray. Taleigao Assembly Constituency CORE ISSUES: decade old unhygienic St Inez storm drain, the undercapacity Tonca sewerage system, the unreliable inefficient bus transport, the migrant influx mostly belonging to the minority community, the economically deprived tribal community "nav gawdas" and gawdas. The municipal area elite and the village panchayat villagers have living standards that contrast by comparison. Loyalty to the light blue eyed fair dimunitive highly volatile versatile self confessed juvenile brat - Atnasio Babush Monseratte son of a money lender who resides in a closed fortress near the St Inez Church--- (there is a massive gate which bars the naked eye from peeping into the "castle") is reflected by the INC flags banners ( photo of Sonia Gandhi and Babush ) in front of the houses establishments of " his " voters. Youthful voulunteers wearing T shirts screaming "BABUSH". Moslems mainly from Karnataka living alongside some of the narrow roads of the Constituency are clearly in violation of building bye laws.. They form the"meat" of his vote bank. "Dont ask whether the structures are legal illegal "-- says a resident to this writer --we have been residing here for over 30 years. They are mainly autorickshaw owners etc. Then down the village side there are the gawda community even the "nav gawdas" and they are all for "Babush" "to amcho kama korta --amka pavta " The elitist voters are a little secretive -- we have not decided yet --- here lies the big question. will they will they not voter for BJP. Babush meets the voters on his several rounds no "bashan" lectures and he carried the campaign himself --- he believes in himself none other. When asked "Who should get the credit for the "development" of the Constituency ? yes the roads are well, laid at Dona Paula the Goa University the bye pass the garden in front of the St Inez Church the pavement excellent. Babush tells his voters the BJP never had a mandate to rule niether in October,2000 nor in June 2004, and to press his point he states --"they will never ever". So "without us (meaning those from other partiest that extended support to BJP and later turned "noveau BJP" like Babush) Mr Parrikar would not have achieved anything. Yes the credit should go to them --- look what happens without us --- referring to the present bye elections -- heads nod in agreement. Every thing is well organised the voters on the list matter none other he cross checks himself . Loyalty at the booths ought to be 100% he tells his volunteers. The other candidate Pradip Nagvekar the BJP candidate started his campaign late but he too moves around with a few voters and their message is clear -- you need two hands to clap -- this counters Babush's claims . Meaning without the direction of Mr Parrikar to the development agenda in 51 months the state would have nothing to mention. They bank on the "Hindu votes " the government employees the traders the upper castes and the intelligentia and these silent votes could turn the apple cart for Babush. Yes Babush has admitted that he had not time enough for his children and the June 2005 results could provide him the much needed time if the tide turns against him. Allow us to complete the unaccomplished task for the remaining years. Some remark the candidate is "weak" Mr Parrikar assures - just vote for him -- I will take care of the rest--- this infact reflects the 51 month old Mr Parrikar image -- he is the master of all -- Their campaign is a much on low profile. Mr Parrikar himself has met many of the constituents personally --thats his style, and he blames Babush who in his opinion would turn Goa into a concrete jungle -- paddy fields into real estate hills downsized to erect apartments. Hence there was no alternative the demands were too much and I had to get him out says Parrikar --- give us an absolute majority we need not depend on these turncoats (Babush) Despite contradictions the battle is friendly. The ex MLA Mr Somnath Zuarkar is supporting Babush -- but could it be a quid pro qua there are too many cases involving Zuarkar and Parrikar had pinned him down to silence. Cumbarjua Assembly Constituency Core Issues --Erratic or no regular water supply, inefficient transport,power failures, promised bridges. system , accute unemployment among the fishing community community and agricluturists bridges The veteran ex INC MLA ex-GPCC President a loyal Congress woman is in command of the situation -- "My voters have told me to contest "-- she says -- because her arch rival youthful realtor Mr Madkaikar an ST deep into real estate -- needs to be shown the door ---her campaign is gruelling it tells on her face sleepless nights the long detours---her constituency consists of islands she is the ageing war horse--- yes there are enemies within (INC) that have ruined the party and she singles out Mr Luisinho Faleiro as one --- there is a simple cupboard atop a three wheeler which makes the rounds --- its low profile -- but she is confident of the change in mind of the voters of Cumbarjua largely a fishing community, then there are those from St Estevam (which would have gone to Mayem constituency had she not moved the powers that be in New Delhi---- and Chorao she promises to get back (delimitation of constituencies )Divar is also her vote base Marcel is an MGP stronghold but she is confident the voters are with her. The priests have lent discreet support ot her imaculately clean credentials . A teacher armed with a post graduate degree and law she has been soft spoken her husband runs an engineering division and is humble to the core a gentleman. Madkaikar is young dynamic a hero of sorts has a more visible campaign --- he says "Nirmala is out to help the BJP -- she is supported by the BJP and that seems to be the contention of those that support Madkaikar--- and they sport T shirts "Madkaikar" There is fuel for all eight litres for four wheelers five litres for two wheelers on the day of the rally last sunday 29 may 2005 the sale of petrol pump was stopped -- no reasons -- Some say a complaint was lodged with the Election Commission observers. Then there is a prominent NRI who has an axe to grind ---the "free for commuters" ferry on all routes was demanded but Madkaikar then Inland Waterway Minister did not oblige he gave just one route therefore no support this time for Madkaikar. He means it and he has stayed to see his defeat. Then there is a move to allow free ferrying of vehicles as an election promise and many fall for this bait. One sees the Konkan Railway bridge in place but why not the bridges for the islanders of Divar ? Are they promises made in the air --- well the answer is simple politics - one voter told this writer --- why cant that be left to the surveyors to decide and have one in place? There is one proposal for a bridge at Colvale near Mhambres house -- thats to please the BJP so the others say no and the politics continue. The BJP candidates Mr Krishna Kuttikar also an ST electioneering is low profile he was an INCex MLA but that was a decade ago now a rejuvenated politician he believes the BJP and Mr Parrikar will do something and voters agree. The MGP candidate has its candidate Mr V Shet but he has miles to go --- he is there if the voters can help - there are some pockets where the voters would vote only for the "Lion" symbol mostly women and man aged 50 and above, these votes are intended just to create a triangular contest in which either the Independent or the BJP candidate can win. Madkaikar was an ex MGP. remember. in 28 Benaulim Assembly Constituency Core issues Unemployment, low voltage power, dismal transport problem (taxi and bus services) This is a "quid pro qua" seat allotment given to the Nationalist Congress Party its candidate Mr Francisco (Mickey) Pacheco otherwise referred to as a joker by the UGDP campaigners though he is now showing a matured appearance. He promises all he spells out his works. The cable networks profiles the role of the young man who went to the Gulf at the young age of 16 years and turned to be a self made business man. But despite his philantrophic nature his immediate family has not benefitted much and that brings his claims in dispute. There is a personal tirade launched against him -- which has attracted the attention of the UGDP and the UGDP believes a public figure should allow his private life to be an open book. They demand that his spouse should be given her share and sent off rather than allow her to see him with another thro who he has sired a child . No doubt this writer encountered many who felt that this was "washing dirty linen in public" but if one witnesses the level of campaign there is not doubt that the mind set of the voters here is too rustic. This apart -- what has bugged the voters is come delimitation Mickey moves lock stock and barrel to the newly baptised "Nuvem Constituency" which is the present Loutolim constituency but with parts of Benaulim Constituency viz Utorda Majorda Seraulim Betalbaltim taken to Nuvem. So why should one vote for Mickey argue the UGDP? and it is here that Francisco Monte Cruz the ex MLA Benaulim of the early eighties now in his early sixties has staged a comeback --- He will support, the Congress in Government formation he promises . Monte is a doer not a speaker the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Fatorda Stadium was built in a record time of eight months, he has helped over 5000 youth get passports, nearly 3.5 crores subsidy under the Khadi & Village Industries Development Corporation were disbursed during his tenure. His tenure seen the panchas being pulled up for dereliction of duties. Mr Audi of Benaulim one of the panchas confirms this. Where was he for the last twenty years well he admits the others were in the fray and despite his credentials was denied an INC ticket but he is a loyalist and has secular credentials which even the Hindus will admit . He was first to test the waters alongwith Anacleto Viegas of the UGDP (two leaves ) he visted the constituency and women are his strong supporters he says they have asked him to contest. For the carpenter for the fishermen for the old the women for the youth he has schemes and one such is every gulf or overseas job seeker will recieve financial assistance from the Government by way of low interest loans. The campaign is low profile but voters swear on his ability to deliver. The fisherman have their own problems and understand the ground realities Micky may give them a go by for he need not come to them next term. But there are others who hold the UGDP suspect the Presidium consists of Radharao Gracias Anacleto Viegas and also Auda Viegas all closely related. Therefore it is more of a family concern argue some. Their politics has come for criticism e.g Adv Radharao was seen campaigning for the BJP candidate Isidore Fernandes at Mashem now he a hard core critic of the INC assures that Francisco Monte Cruz will support the INC and all this is confusing -- this is causing some anxious moments for Francisco Monte Cruz . Margao Assembly Constituency Core Issues Traffic chaos garbage problem, stray dogs, city bus problems intra route, parking problems, house tax and overflowing drains hawker menance. This battle can be termed as the battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas --BJP is leaving no stone unturned to see its arch betrayer Digamber Kamat unseated. They quote Indian history of betrayals Raja Jaichand betraying Prithviraj Chauhan, betrayal of Sambhaji by Suryaji and mir Jafars betrayal which brought the British Empire to India . Kamat now admits that "the timing of his quiting the party was wrong" but the BJP is in no mood to forgive he must be shown the door. The pavements around Margao were the works which the Parrikar Government needs to be credited. Says Parrikar of Mr Kamat ----in his first term Mr Kamat was in the Opposition, in the second term he could not do much, but from October 2000 it was only because of his stewardship Kamat could develop Margao no one denies this. The youthful BJP candidate is a sharp intelligent and terse speakers he admits his young age but at 29 the age when man have achieved the impossible Kamat needs to take note. Kamat depends on the INC vote bank , Monte meaning a Hill in Portuguese and should stay that way no as(wrongly referred to "Moti Dongor" this is a notified slum since 1989 other pockets of migrant squatters in encroached Communidade lands are at "Babu nagri" and Fakirband these are the creation of Mr Manohar Ajgaonkar (Babu) now the MLA of Dhargalim a SC ex councillor of Margao Municipal council who is spearheading the campaign for BJP candidate. Kamat depends solely on the Catholic voters who invariably vote for INC and ofcourse the Moslems. Recently the Bahujan Samaj hindus mostly posorkars now consider themselves as neo Brahmins and therefore they vote according to the dominant community the Brahmins of Margao. Digamber means development --- he claims to have a 24 hour helpline all this is bull crap allege his voters he switches off the telephone the moment he gets a call says one voter--- about jobs he maintains a register but he does not guarantee jobs he refers some for low paid jobs --- The issue of garbage has not been solved. Kamat has a penchant to woo the Catholic community from Assolna Velim Cuncolim Chinchinim Constituency knowing full well that the women are registered voters of this constituency while the men are still voters in their native villages. The issue of burial ground is as old as the trees. Parrikar assured the Moslems courtesy of a burial ground and there is no doubt that given a choice between Kamat and Parrikar the laters credibility is genuine at least in matters of development. Kamat promised flawless power supply by upgrading transformers distribution lines but he failed. He promised uninterrupted water supply with new tanks in place but this was a failure because power supply failure could not help water to be pumped up and residents suffered. The ring road meant to ease traffic congestion conceptualised in 1976 has not seen the light of the day. His dream for "Madganv" is not a five year promise but a twenty five year old plan well intended to visual his dream, when he attains sanyasin (75 years). The voters have decided that its young Sharmad Raiturkar a novice who will don the mantle, atleast for two years to accomplish the unfinished agenda of Mr Parrikar. Kamat has the support of Lok Shakti it is a group of persons against Mr Parrikar for reasons personal. They spit venom but lack following it is only a periodical run by an ex editor of Herald where they find favour to vent their ire against Mr Parrikar. This group at one of the public meets chided Mr Kamat for his oft repeated assurances on power thefts crimes robberies in Margao but now have supported him -- to see that they oust Mr Parrikar. This writer who worked in close tandom with late Anant (Babu) Naik recollects an incident where Babu had warned --- never to trust the members of his community for they would promise you a vote and do the opposite --- this is what one can expect in Margao. The INC too is not to comfortable with Kamat for he may stake his claim for CM and MP Churchill had promised him that while Mr Luizinho Faleiro disagrees. 40 Poinguinim Assembly Constituency Core Issues The Talpona, Galgibag, Bridge the water problems of the Chapoli dam and other areas the Kumeri cultivation industrial estate unemployment. Will Isidore win this time? If yes it will be history and perhaps --- there may be need to study the genetic composition of what makes this man achieve what others have not The BJP candidate is a Velip Mr Ramesh Tawadkar a graduate and Physical Education teacher. This constituency faces its last election then it merges with neighbouring Canacona. So what are the stakes involved. If Isidore wins on INC ticket Mr Sanjay Bandekar ex MLA of Canacona may not be able to stake his claim for the Canacona Constituency next elections. But yet despite his threats to jump into Dr Vijay Mallya's Janata Party Secular he is now seen moving with the Isidore entourage that makes his presence suspect. is he taking the opportunity to understudy Mr Isidore ??? The BJP candidate is a knows social worker lost the elections in June 2002 was not given a ticket in October 2004 and now appears to be in command but most Velips argue that despite being their man this teacher stays aloof from his people ---compared to Isidore Patrao -- and that makes the difference. But a major setback came about when the Independent candidate Leao Monteiro who was Isidores supporter entered the fray with help of Eddie (one time Isidore supporter) The raid and sealing of Monteiros distillery clearly a political gimmick by INC move has antagonised the barowners in Polem Loliem Mashem they are left with no supplies they argue. IMFL sale of liquor is THE business at this south end border and the price difference between Goa and neigbouring Karnataka makes the cash counters jingle. Not any longer. But things may change if Isidore Bab promises to "understand" meaning lift the seal on the distillery. The BJP has composed songs by Varde which speak of development of State not of self. They argue " elect your Velip member" (Incidentally there are two members of the ST contesting the elections on BJP ticket one at Cumbarjua the other in Poinguinim ) There is the state of art Canacona Bus stand the Chapoli dam the new Community Health Centre which is due for inauguration works of the Parrikar Government. The Galgibag Talpona Bridges foundation stone ought to have been inuagurated on Liberation Day and then postponed to Republic Day could not see the light of the day owing to political instability. But politics there is in the two bridges because the Konkan Railway has already built its bridges --- it is true the distance will be shortened by 10 kms from Chaudi to Mashem but what about those business on the existing route and therefore no politician dares build these bridges ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! 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