Festival of Democracy CLIFF-HANGER in Benaulim

Goemkarponn desk
MARGAO: Benaulim constituency this time will see a tough fight between the Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress and Congress party.
AAP’s Venzy Viegas has been taking up several local issues from the constituency, comforting the people, whereas TMC’s Churchill Alemao has been claiming to be the man of the masses and people of Benaulim will support him this time.
Benaulim constituency which is located at the coastal region of Goa, is Minority dominated area with several coastal communities especially the fishing community.
Although the constituency has a lush green environment, beautiful beaches and fishing business, the overall development of the constituency seems to have taken a back seat.
People of Benaulim are craving for the development which the mainstream constituencies from Goa has witnessed over the decades post liberation.
This time, there are some young faces from AAP, Congress, BJP which Benaulim constituents will be able to see during the election.
AAP’s Venzy Viegas, who is a firm favourite, has been criticizing the strongman of Varca Churchill Alemao for not bringing necessary  development in Benaulim and has accused him of just giving lip service to the people. Viegas feels that the seafarers, fishing and other coastal communities from the Benaulim should get benefits from the government in terms of better medical facilities, market for the goods such as fish and other items which are produced by the local people. Venzy has also condemned the bossy attitude of some elements from the constituency which hinders the local businessmen from doing business in the Benaulim constituency.
On the other hand, TMC’s Churchill Alemao has shown his firm trust in the TMC and Mamta Banerjee (didi) and has claimed that she is the powerful person who could defeat BJP and therefore people must support her party. Alemao has been in forefront in Konkani language agitation demanding Roman Konkani to be the official language of Goa as told by him. He has taken up the issues of the fisherman community of Goa and has an image of the people’s man.
Alemao, when questioned whether AAP has been doing good in the Benaulim constituency, he said that he is strong in Benaulim and people have elected him and made him a leader.
This time too on a TMC ticket people will vote for him because people are impressed with the various schemes which were brought by TMC in Goa.
On the other hand, Tony Dias of Congress party will also going to fetch some votes in Benaulim constituency since there is a wave against the BJP in the state. Minority voters from constituency are likely going to vote Congress party.
Other candidate of BJP, Damodar Bandodkar will also try his best to fetch votes in Benaulim. But considering the several agitations, lesser presence of BJP in minority dominated area like Benaulim constituency will likely give tough time for BJP candidate.
Few days back, former Congress leader Mickey Pacheco had also expressed his willingness to contest from Benaulim and had claimed that he has got his 4000 to 5000 personal votes and has expressed confidence that people will elect him from Benaulim this time.
Time will tell who will win in Benaulim but it is quite sure that people of coastal belt are fed up with the underdevelopment and have been craving for the change which they intent to bring this election.