Constituency Profile: Party-hoppers dominate the scene in Benaulim by Aditya Anand
Benaulim May 21: The traditional Congress bastion of Benaulim is expected to witness a keen tussle with the Nationalist Congress Party MLA, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco, popularly known as Micky, in his battle to retain the seat, being pitted against the United Goans Democratic Party candidate, Mr Francisco Monte Cruz. They along with tiatrist and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, Mr Premanand Lotlikar and independent candidate, Dr Piedade Fernandes (a dentist by profession) will add to the excitement. With alliance partner, the NCP putting up Mr Pacheco, a former UGDP MLA, the Congress party, along with the Alemao brothers will — for the first time in over two decades — not be in the fray. While Mr Pacheco is trying hard to get re-elected, Mr Monte Cruz is getting back to his former electorate. He was the Benaulim MLA on two occasions in 1980 and again in 1984. Though keen on recontesting from the constituency in 1984, Mr Cruz did a disappearing act from politics upon being denied a Congress ticket. The fight for Benaulim will no doubt be a one-to-one between Mr Pacheco and Mr Cruz, but what would be interesting to see would be who the South Goa MP, Mr Churchill Alemao goes with. Mr Alemao, a former MLA from Benaulim lost to Mr Pacheco in the last general elections and later went on to become a MP. Though Mr Alemao is silent on his stand, Mr Pacheco has openly said that the South Goa MP is all out to ensure his defeat. Taking advantage, the UGDP has also claimed to have Mr Alemao’s backing and gone a step further by roping in Congress workers (read Mr Alemao’s supporters) to campaign for the party. The Benaulim sarpanch, Ms Meena Leitao and Colva sarpanch, Mr Snowkan Gonsalves are supporting the NCP candidate, while former zilla panchayat chairperson, Ms Nelly Rodrigues is backing beer magnate, Mr Monte Cruz. The BJP instead of renominating Ms Laxmi Gonsalves, the party’s Benaulim candidate in 2002 has zeroed in on Mr Premanand Lotlikar, a former Congressman who joined the BJP recently. For Mr Lotlikar, the by-elections will be his first experience. He had made claims to the Congress ticket in the past and was always denied one. The BJP candidate is however expected to grab a large chunk of the anti- Pacheco Hindu votes. Current indications are that Mr Pacheco seems to have an edge over Mr Monte Cruz. The former tourism minister has managed a convince those affected in the demolitions at Colva saying that the demolitions were not carried out on many occasions due his intervention. Already having made the demolition a major political issue, the UGDP has also wooed the affected voters with a rehabilitation package. Campaigning in the constituency began with Mr Pacheco putting up banners across the constituency days before the Election Commission declared the by-poll dates. While it was well-known that Mr Pacheco would contest, the candidature of Mr Monte Cruz was not officially declared till the declaration of poll dates. As for the BJP, the party kept on insisting that it would not put a candidate but just support somebody, finally did just the opposite. The Independent candidate, Dr Piedade Fernandes, is known to be close to a large number of people in terms of knowing them. It is left to be seen if it will help in drawing the votes. He is being supported by the MGP. Benaulim constituency is made up of the villages of Uttorda, Calata, Majorda, Betalbatim, Gonsna, Sernabatim, Vanelim, Colva, Gaundalim, Benaulim, Adsulim and Cana in Salcete taluka, under Margao sub-division. The electoral strength of Benaulim, stands at 23,104. Of this the females are in a majority - 11,723 and 11381 males. Having a voter strength of 22,820 during the 2002 general elections, Benaulim has a rough breakup of 20,363 - Christians, 3,077 -Hindus and 373 - Muslims. The electoral list has had an addition of 284 names after the last elections. The only time the seat went to the opposition was in 1969, when the seat was won by Luita Ferrao of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. In the 1984 general elections, Mr Francisco Monte Cruz won the seat securing 7,280 votes. Contesting on the Congress ticket, he defeated Mr Churchill Alemao of the Goa Congress party. Mr Alemao bagged 5,555 votes. In the next general elections in 1989, Mr Monte Cruz was denied a Congress ticket which was instead given to Mr Alemao, who won. Having retained the seat for the party, Mr Alemao won the 1994 polls as well. In the assembly elections of 1999 too, the seat went to the Congress party represented by Mr Alemao. Having secured 8,625 votes, he defeated the UGDP candidate, Mr Radharao Gracias by 4,837 votes. The BJP candidate, Mr Roopesh Mahatme had secured 298 votes. In the 2002 elections, the seat went to the UGDP for the first time. Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco polled 7,752 votes against the 6,703 votes polled by Mr Alemao, who was seeking re-election on the Congress ticket. The BJP, which had fielded Ms Laxmi Gonsalves managed to improve its kitty bagging 394 votes. (courtesy: www.navhindtimes.com) - Forwarded by http://www.goa-world.com
