In North Goa, ‘nice guy’ Shripad is the favourite, but buzz is all about bypolls

PANAJI: As the road winds up to the heart of the constituency, nestled at the northern end of Goa, it gets louder at every turn. It’s Easter and Mandrem is buzzing quite early.


There are the usual foreigners riding around in modified bikes, wearing the bare minimum to beat the summer heat. The locals zip around in cars, playing hip hop music, but it’s a Konkani song that catches your immediate attention. This is election time in this part of the world.

The BJP campaign vehicle is playing Konkani music, clearly targeting the 4,500-odd Catholic electorate. That it’s Easter Sunday isn’t lost on anyone. Just across the road, Goa Suraksha Manch is having its meeting, clad in so much of saffron that it’s difficult to tell the difference between them and BJP.

Elsewhere, Congress is staying in touch with its core political base and Jit Arolkar, the independent candidate who is attracting attention here with his candle marches, is speeding around the constituency in what he maintains is “last-minute diplomacy”.

There is so much happening here, yet the man who probably matters the most, is calm as a millpond. Even the lone policeman on duty is quite relaxed, opening the doors of the gate to his new residence, without a fuss. About 200m away is Laxmikant Parsekar. Not the

Parsekar

you’ve known as the former chief minister. This gentleman is in his shorts and a casual t-shirt. He clearly finds himself at home here, and given the broad smile on his face, least bothered about the world outside his compound.

Despite negativity, BJP has takers in North Goa

“I’m in a holiday mood,” he told a team of TOI reporters who landed at his doorstep unannounced.

The former chief minister has actively campaigned for the party and

Shripad

Naik at the Lok Sabha elections, but has consciously stayed away from Mandrem. His home turf has seen Dayanand Sopte—a Congress defector—being given BJP ticket for the Mandrem bypolls, but Parsekar’s silence has created plenty of unease. Will he, won’t he, remains the question, less than 48 hours before the constituency goes to polls.

The

bypoll

is too close to be called, although given the division of votes between Bhabi Bagkar (Congress) and Arolkar, Sopte may end up having the last laugh.

“I cannot predict the assembly result but for sure, BJP will take the lead, quite comfortably, at the Lok Sabha election. Congress is far behind,” said one polling official from the region, known to have his ear to the ground.

That Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Naik are finding favour can be heard in nearby Mapusa too. Ashish Shirodkar, an independent candidate who is contesting the bypoll in Mapusa, is preparing to make an “impact” on the final day of campaigning with his autorickshaw rally. There are about 30 lined up at Ganeshpuri and joining them are 50 motorcycles.

“In Mapusa, there is a BJP wave, but it’s not for Joshua (de Sousa),” said Shirodkar, who is locking horns with the former deputy chief minister’s son.

When BJP has made mostly negative headlines, why are they still ahead in the Lok Sabha race, even if marginally? When Shripad has been elected for four consecutive terms, been an MP for 20 years and minister for two terms, why doesn’t anyone have anything bad to say about him?

“That is an interesting question. But look around and maybe you will find the answer,” said a BJP panch from St Andre constituency, a Congress stronghold. It is here that Congress’ hand is most visible. Since the entry of Atanasio Monserrate, Congress has been revitalised in Tiswadi with Taleigao, St Cruz and St Andre all getting a timely boost.

MLAs who were hiding at home are now out in the open, garnering support for the party. One MLA, suspected of being on the shopping list of BJP, has started “openly seeking votes” for Congress. That’s quite a turnaround.

As you drive ahead from Goa Velha to Dongri, one eager voter has just announced his own U-turn.

“I voted for (Francisco) Silveira during the assembly elections, but now my vote is for BJP,” he told TOI. The others, about a dozen of them, all punch drunk and eager to make their voice heard in the middle of the night, cheer him. They are BJP sympathisers.

“Nobody has given us jobs. Shripad cannot do much development, but we will vote for BJP. Shripad is a nice guy. He deserves our support, again,” said an artist, who is now on a different high.

It may not happen everywhere, but here in North Goa, nice guys do finish first.