SOIRU VELIP | NT
PANAJI
In the Cumbharjua constituency, it may not be a cakewalk for three-time MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, who is now contesting the election on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket, as he has to face the challenge posed by three other candidates – Xavier Fialho (Congress), Prasad Harmalkar (Independent) and Vishal Volvoikar (Independent). Prakash Naik is contesting the election on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket.
Sources told ‘The Navhind Times’ that the silent voters in the constituency will play an important role in the election scheduled to be held on February 4.
In the 2012 election, Madkaikar, who had contested on a Congress ticket, had won the election by securing 9,556 votes against an Independent candidate Nirmala Sawant, supported by the BJP, who hadpolled 7,981 votes.
This time, Madkaikar, who was the Congress MLA for 12 years, is approaching the voters as BJP candidate.
Besides the BJP workers from the constituency, he has his own supporters working for him even though he left the Congress party at the last minute. With his dedicated supporters Madkaikar is seen visiting voters in every ward. He claimed that this time victory would be easy for him as he has backing of his own supporters besides the dedicated BJP workers.
Congress candidate Xavier Fialho, who is the main rival of Madkaikar, in a short span of time has managed to cover most parts of the constituency with his supporters and party’s workers. He has said that the response from the electorate is overwhelming as he is a new and clean face besides the people want a change. Focusing on door-to-door visits, the Congress candidate has also laid stress on corner meetings.
He maintained that looking at the response from the voters, he is sure about retaining the Congress seat although former party MLA switched sides.
Independent candidate Harmalkar, who has the backing of the MGP, seems to have been successful in creating an impact on the voters during the poll campaign. With the support extended by former MLA Nirmala Sawant to him, his election campaign has got a big boost.
Another Independent candidate Volvoikar, who was a BJP supporter, is also trying hard to convince the voters while AAP candidate Naik along with his party workers is also making his presence felt in the constituency.
Though the constituency is going to witness a straight fight between BJP and Congress candidates, the votes polled by other candidates would be crucial.
