Goemkarponn desk
Gaurang Prabhu Malkarnekar
MARGAO: The Navelim Zilla Parishad results has thrown out several questions over who will win the next 2022 Assembly polls in the constituency.
While the independent candidate Edwin won by a slender margin of 300-odd votes despite the popularity of Congress’s Pratima Coutinho speaks volumes of what is in store for 2022.
More importantly, the surge of Aam Aadmi Party in the Constituency is commendable.
Though AAP’s Matilda D’Silva was third in position, her margin difference with the winner Cipru was hardly 500 votes as she garnered 2428.
The vote share should definitely boost the morale of the party men in the constituency and also elsewhere.
Credit should go to AAP as they have developed systematic network in Navelim as they held several corner meetings and protests regarding electricity bills, says AAP’s Navelim convenor Captain Venzy Viegas says.
Captain Venzy further says “It was tough, till the end we fought against seasoned campaigners. There’s lot to take positive about this campaign. Firstly we have gained the mindshare of people which has resulted in Vote share almost equal to Congress, Sirlim booth we have got highest 238 votes, Coldem , Sarzora North wing and Dramapur one booth we got more votes than other candidates. In Dramapu , Sirlim and Sarzora combined we got 150 votes lead over Cipru. We have got 400 + votes in Mandopa where as Cipru got 500 in Dongrim area too we got good vote share BJP and Cipru stronghold”, he said.
He added, “Our next step is to go to people and make them understand AAP Goa Model.”
ON the other hand, it is a alarming situation for Congress in Goa. After the exit of 10 Congress MLA’s last year, the grand old party is losing its position in State.
Interestingly, there seems to be no unity within the party.
It looks like party high command is just not interested in Goa.
After the defeat in Lok Sabha polls and later in Zilla Panchayat result Congress State president Girish Chodankar tendered his resignation to party high command but they are yet to take a call despite may claimants for the top post.
Navelim being a strong fold of Congress it’s very shocking that Congress candidate is lost in Zilla Panchayat polls even after putting all force in Navelim.
Accept Ravi Naik and Pratapsigh Rane all other 3 Digambar Kamat, Alexio Reginald and Luizinho Faleiro worked for the candidate.
Velim sarpanch and ticket aspirant for Velim assembly constituency was also seen active in the two wards of Velim for Pratima’s campaign
Sadly, Pratima’s popularity did not win her votes in the Congress bastion.
In recent time Pratima has been instrumental in organising morchas and agitations throughout the state but the same dint work to turn the popularity in votes
Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro has said that his entire office and workers had worked on the ground in support of the party candidate.
He, however, said the rise of AAP in the Navelim ZP constituency, came close to the Congress candidate in the tally of votes, resulting in a division of the Congress vote.
“This is a matter of concern not just in Navelim, but in other constituencies as well and the Party leadership should take into account this factor while working out strategies”, he said.