Goemkarponn desk
SIOLIM: If there is one Constituency in Goa that will see stiff competition in Goa in the forthcoming Assembly elections, then it has to be the Constituency of Siolim.
There are several high-profile contenders, but three big names from the Bharatiya Janata Party themselves are in the race for the ticket.
It would be interesting to see who gets the ticket.
Incumbent MLA Vinod Palyekar of Goa Forward Party is confident of getting the party ticket again and will win the elections hands down.
However, Siolkars feel that Palykear’s departure from State Cabinet has little development work in the Constituency.
Of course, the bad roads which the people about has been the story throughout the State, and only Palyekar cannot be blamed.
Former MLA Dayanand Mandrekar was the front-runner for the BJP ticket and was also one of the favourites to win elections, but some developments in the party have put a question mark on his candidature.
Moreover, Minister Michael Lobo fielding his wife Delilah Lobo from the Constituency as an independent candidate has put a question mark on Mandrekar’s winnability.
Lobos are making quick forays into the Constituency, and people say Delilah is a firm favourite to win.
However, the outsider factor could affect her chances.
Michael Lobo is a popular face in the entire Bardez taluka, and his influence in the Siolim constituency is enough to take his wife through, but one has to see which party ticket she contests on.
It is being said she is vying for a Congress ticket, a rumour which has been denied so far by Lobo.
But that does not mean the road is clear for Mandrekar. Another BJP youth leader, Gajanan Tilve has thrown his hat in the ring and is ready to contest elections independently if the party does not give him a ticket.
Tilve a veteran BJP youth leader, has an old rivalry with Mandrekar’s son Samir Mandrekar. Tilve was recently sidelined by the party to appoint Samir as the BJYM president, which has irked Tilve and has stopped participating in party activities of late.
He started his work during COVID19 times helping people with groceries and other materials.
While the BJP has several candidates in the Constituency, Congress is struggling to find one.
If Delilah Lobo joins the party, she is definitely a winnable candidate. However, there are lots of Ifs and Buts in that.
Interestingly, in the 2017 elections, the Cong-NCP had forged an alliance, and the NCP candidate Abhijit Dhargalkar had lost miserably, getting just 275 votes.
Anuna-Caisua Sarpanch Savio Almeida is trying for the Congress ticket but is unsure of the same.
He, however, says that he would contest elections come what may.
The Aam Aadmi Party and the Trinamool Congress are yet to zero in on the candidates in the Constituency.
It is being said that the AAP is in talks with one social worker Pravin Kochrekar, who is likely to be their candidate.
