Saffron party exudes confidence of winning by 15,000 vote margin, claims poll calculations show lead over Cong in almost 13 out of 20 Assembly segments; main Opposition says will retain seat
MARGAO
In the midst of a massive victory predicted for the BJP and NDA in the Lok Sabha polls by the Exit polls, the Congress may take a consolation that the Exit polls have shown that the BJP and Congress may share spoils in Goa.
The BJP leadership and the ruling party rank and file isn’t willing to concede defeat in South Goa at least till the EVMs are opened on June 4. In fact, ruling party sources seemed exuding confidence that the party should regain the seat from the Congress by around 10,000-15,000 vote margin.
Congress South Goa candidate, Captain Viriato Fernandes, however, said the Congress will retain the South Goa seat, going on the public sentiment across the constituency. “The Exit polls must have predicted victory for the Congress in South Goa seat. The Congress was confident of retaining the seat given the wholehearted support extended by the people of South Goa across the constituency,” Captain Viriato said.
BJP leaders, however, seemed to not have not lost hopes of Pallavi Dempo winning the seat. In fact, BJP insiders say that poll calculations say the party is expected to lead over the Congress in almost 13 out of the 20 Assembly segments that make up the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency.
Sources further pointed out that BJP has left the segments in the minority-dominated strongholds of Benaulim, Nuvem, Velim, Curtorim and Navelim for the Congress and INDIA bloc to give sizeable lead for Captain Viriato Fernandes. Of these five seats, the Congress candidate is expected to do exceptionally well in Velim, Benaulim and Nuvem followed by Curtorim and Navelim, ruling party sources say.
In the remaining three Assembly segments of Margao, Fatorda and Curtorim, however, BJP sources say that party candidate Pallavi Dempo is expected to take an impressive lead in Margao. That’s not all. The BJP leadership does not rule out the possibility of the BJP leading over the Congress, though by a thin margin, in Fatorda represented by Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai and in Cuncolim, the home constituency of Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao.
BJP insiders say the party also expects a sizeable lead around 10,000-vote margin in Mormugao taluka, where around 80,000 polling had taken place.
In the South Goa hinterland, where as many as eight Assembly segments are at stake, the BJP is banking heavily in almost all segments in its bid to regain the seat. In fact, the party is eyeing for massive leads in seven out of the eight segments, with sources saying Quepem represented by Congress MLA Altone D’Costa may go either way with wafer thin vote margin.
As usual, the ruling party is pinning high hopes on its traditional segments, Madkai and Sanvordem to give minimum 9,000-10,000 vote lead each for Pallavi Dempo. This time, the party is hoping to do exceptionally well in Sanguem, Canacona and Ponda followed by Shiroda and Curchorem.
Congress candidate Captain Viriato Fernandes, however, has begged to differ. He said inputs received from Congress workers and well wishers shows that the Congress will perform well in the hinterland talukas as well, which will help the Congress to retain the seat.