Hemant Abhishek
The picturesque beach-state of Goa awaits high-voltage clashes on both its Lok Sabha seats. The seats of North and South Goa go to polls on April 12. Both the Congress and the BJP have one siting MP each from the state, but one could possibly see a three-horse-race with the Aam Aadmi Party throwing its hat into the ring this time around.
North Goa — Sitting BJP MP Shripad Naik will take on Congress` former chief minister Ravi Naik who is facing alleged charges of corruption. Naik and his son Roy are indicted in the State Legislative Assembly`s house committee report for allegedly sheltering Israeli drug lord Yaniv Benaim alias Atala. Congress party has said that Naik`s indictment was discussed in the Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting which resolved that since there is no evidence against Naik, it does not disqualify him from contesting the polls. The BJP is looking to encash this issue and Goa spokesman Dr Wilfred Mesquita said the best way to say `No` to drugs is by not voting for Naik.
The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Dr Dattaram Desai from the seat. Though the fledgling party has taken to the people with its promise to rid the state of rampant drug trade and mining chaos, but its rallies and dharnas outside casinos have seen scarce attendance from the locals. The Congress too has promised to offer a solution to the vexed drug mafia issue in its election manifesto. Goa Congress chief John Fernandes said the manifesto will have a few local issues which includes tackling the drug mafia existing along the state coast. The party has also listed special status, solution for crisis faced by people with dual nationality, besides law and order situation on the top of their manifesto.
South Goa — On the Christian-dominated seat, instead of reinvesting its faith in sitting MP Cosme Francisco Caitano Sardinha Congress has fielded Aleix Reginaldo Lourenco and the latter will face off with BJP candidate Narendra Savaikar. Congress`decision to field Laurenco has come under severe criticism from within party ranks with senior leader Churchill Alemao even quitting the party. Alemao has filed his nomination from a Trinamool Congress ticket. The contest further heated when Shalom Sardinha—the distraught son of sitting MP Francisco Sardinha filed his nomination from the seat as an independent candidate. The infighting might benefit Savoikar`s chances.
AAP`s Swati Kerkar and Independent candidate Venus Habib are the two women candidates constesting the South Goa seat. Also in the fray are Bahujan Mukti party`s Clifton D`Souza and BJP`s `substitute` candidate Nilesh Cabral. Goa Su-Raj party`s Savio Rodrigues, Congress` `substitute` Altinho Gomes and Independents Jawahar Dias and Balkrishna Salgaonkar have also filed their nominations for the seat.
In the 2012 polls held for the 40-member Goa Assembly, BJP won 21 seats, INC won 9 seats, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak won 3 seats, Goa Vikas Party won 2 seats and 5 seats went to Independent candidates. The BJP alongwith the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party came together to form the government. They had a clear majority and BJP leader Manohar Parrikar was nominated as the Chief Minister.
Polling will be held on 1,622 polling stations of the two seats on April 12. Total 10,57,499 voters would exercise their voting rights. Of the total, 5,92,920 voters are in North Goa and the rest in South Goa.
