Looking back
2007
Damodar Naik: 7,943
Vijai Sardesai: 6,172
Piedade Naronha: 3,640
…
2012
Vijay Sardesai: 10,375
Damodar Naik: 8,436
Gaurang Pranhu/ Goemkarponn
FATORDA: With the Assembly elections 2022 drawing closer, all eyes are on the alliance decision between Congress and the Goa Forward, especially in Fatorda.
Fatorda, the satellite town of Margao city, was initially controlled by the Congress, then the BJP gained supremacy and ow Goa Forward.
Goa Forward MLA Vijay Sardesai will contest the forthcoming Assembly elections while Damu Naik, who has twice represented Fatorda constituency, will on BJP symbol.
If there is no alliance between Congress and Goa Forward, Congress will also enter the fray.
Aam Aadmi Party and few independent candidates and making [reparations for the forthcoming polls.
While teh Battle Royale would be between BJP and Goa Forward, the AAP cannot be outright rejected.
Fatorda political history…
The Fatorda constituency was once the stronghold of the Congress, which seems to be struggling to maintain its grip.
Congress was elected to the Fatorda constituency in 1989, 1994 and again in 1999 with Louis (Mama) Kardaz, who proved to be a strongman of the Congress party.
It changed in 2002 assembly elections when BJP candidate Damodar Naik (5,695 votes) defeated Congress’ Mama Cardoz (5,107 votes) by 588 votes.
After that, Naik retained his seat by defeating Vijay Sardesai, who contested on a Congress ticket in 2007 by 1,771 votes.
In that election, Noronha Piedad had won 3,640 votes in an independent election.
Undeterred by this failure, Vijay Sardesai maintained public relations and contested the 2012 Assembly elections independently. He defeated Damu Naik, a two-time MLA, by 1,939 votes. In this election, M.K. Sheikh, who contested on a Congress ticket, got only 660 votes.
After this, Vijay Sardesai retained his popularity by winning the 2017 elections by contesting on the ticket of Goa Forward Party, which he had floated.
In this election, Damu Naik got 9,142 votes while Sardesai got 10,516 votes. Congress candidate Jose De Silva got 1,414 votes while Aam Aadmi Party’s Ranjit Carvalho got 1479 votes.
Sardesai maintained his dominance in this constituency by getting 46.09 per cent of the total votes in the 2017 elections.
Municipal elections an indicator?
Vijai Sardesai also dominated the municipal elections in Fatorda ever since he became an MLA. Out of 25 wards of Margao municipality, 11 wards come under the Fatorda constituency.
In the 2015 municipal elections, Sardesai’s councillors were elected for all these 11 seats, while in 2021, the Goa Forward candidate won 8 out of 11 seats, and the BJP candidate won 3 seats.
Congress fails to rebuild in Fatorda…
On the backdrop of the municipal elections, Vijay Sardesai has started campaigning for the assembly from house to house, while Damu Naik has started meeting the people.
However, no clue will be the Congress candidate?
In the last few months, efforts have been made by the Fatorda block Congress to register members and strengthen the Congress.
However, one understands that this effort is not enough to win the Assembly elections.
Fatorda was once a Congress powerhouse. Congress lost it in 2001 due to division in minority votes, and Damu Naik BJP won.
Fatorda has nearly 6 thousand ST votes which always stood with Congress. If Congress gives a good face well in advance, the results may be different and shocking.
Recently held municipality election results shown Vijay lost grip over Borda, ST dominated area where BJP candidate won the election.
For the first time, AAP contested elections in Goa in 2017 in Fatorda; their candidate secured 1479 votes and was not much popular.
If AAP works in the right direction, it can also make a significant change.
If there is an alliance, Goa Forward will benefit
In the Madgaon municipal, elections Margao MLA Digambar KamatFatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai decided to reunite the municipality by forgetting the old grievances by choosing the option of the 2015 Madgaon Civil Front. Now, Sardesai is trying to use the same formula for the Assembly elections and keep the BJP out of power.
Congress has not yet decided on the alliance. If the coalition is decided, this constituency will go to Goa Forward, which will also benefit them.
QUOTES…
Basically, no election is easy.. BJP is doing its best but it is for the people to decide who to elect.
Even after becoming the Minister or Deputy Chief Minister, Sardesai could not give anything to the people of Fatorda.
No projects could be brought, STs were only promised they will get the land back, no jobs were given. Therefore, in the last ten years, the fake promises of Sardesai have been exposed. Consequently, it is believed that the people of Fatorda will definitely change this time.
– Damu Naik, former MLA
—
It is still unknown about teh alliance in Fatorda. If the senior leaders of the party decide on the coalition, that decision will be accepted.
State President Girish Chodankar, Altin Gomes and Dr Ashish Kamat’s candidature from the Fatorda constituency have been discussed by Congress.
– Yogesh Nagvekar, Working President, Fatorda Group Congress