MARGAO
As suspense continues in the Congress camp over the candidate for the South Goa seat, the three top ticket aspirants -- sitting MP Francisco Sardinha, ex-GPCC chief Girish Chodankar and Captain Viriato Fernandes -- have kicked off their campaign in their own fashion.
With the BJP candidate Pallavi Dempo on a temple run across the South Goa constituency since she launched her campaign last week, the Congress candidates are making their presence felt in different Assembly segments.
Since time is running out with just a month to go for the May 7 polls, all three strong contenders for the Congress ticket have launched their campaign in the constituency.
Sitting MP Francisco Sardinha, sources said, has been literally campaigning over the phone, calling all his supporters and well-wishers over the phone. In fact, the four-time sitting MP said since he knows his voters well as well as those who had supported him over the years, he is in touch with the voters over the telephone.
Moreover, he pointed out that he has been in touch with the people of various Assembly segments in the constituency through the MPLAD works carried out by him over the last five years.
“People of South Goa know me and what I have done for them over the last five years. I will hit the campaign trail the moment the Congress party declares the candidate,” Sardinha said.
On the other hand, ex-GPCC chief and member of the Congress Working Committee, Girish Chodankar has started the campaign in different places. Girish was in the Curchorem-Sanvordem area on Wednesday, wherein he had an interaction with party workers.
Girish told The Goan that since the party is yet to declare the candidate, he has made his presence felt in the constituency to galvanise and mobilise the workers and supporters for the May 7 polls.
“Right now, we do not know who will be the party candidate for South Goa. But we have started the campaign for the party so that whoever gets the ticket is not left behind because of time,” Girish said, adding that he would support any candidate zeroed in by the party if his candidature does not find favour with the party leadership.
To a question, Girish said the people seemed disappointed over the delay in the declaration of candidates but hastened to add that the people want the candidate to be declared immediately in the interest of the Congress party.
Captain Viriato Fernandes, sources in the know informed, has also made his presence felt in the constituency. He along with party leaders have been moving the length and breadth of the constituency right from Canacona to Curtorim and Ponda over the last few days.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, when contacted, said though the party High Command has still not unveiled the party candidate for South Goa, the party organisation and the party leadership have started the work right from the booth level to mobilise the party rank and file for the ensuing battle.
