Goa: Tiswadi Everything is Turmeric at this time, but this is not a natural color of Taluka.
In 2017, Congress won three out of five seats.
In 2019 when the selection was held for Panaji, after the death of the former Manohar Parragar Minister, the party added another one to the calculation with Astanasio Monserrate won the Panaji Constitution for the first time in 25 years.
All looked good for Congress in Taluka, until the Monsererrate led nine other MLA and joined BJP.
The four of the ten came from Tiswadi, and what it looked like an encouraging situation for the party in his castle turned into a nightmare.
Fifth Mla at The Taluka Now – Francisco Silveira (St Andre), Antonio Rodrigues (Santa Cruz), Pandurang Madkaikar (Cumbarjua), Panasio Monserrate (Panaji) and Jennifer Monserrate (Taleigao) – belongs to BJP.
“Goa people now want to kill virus defections,” said Congress President Girish Chodankar.
“Monserrate is the father of the defection virus, and when he is defeated, the message will be hard and clear.” The four defectors now fight with BJP tickets, convinced that they can win their own strength, no matter that in at least two constituencies – Santa Cruz and Taleigao – BJP never tasted success.
In neighbor St Andre, the Safron party won once, in 2012, when the anti-congress wave was too strong.
Can Congress, fight the strength of established politicians, still winning with new faces? At least Chodankar thinks so, but it’s easier to say than done.
In Panaji, for example, Monserrate is still a boss.
Congress has reduced Elvis Gomes, the Candidate Minister AAP in 2017, but the former CCP commissioner has received a little support from members of Congress in the city as a former mayor – Surendra Furtado and Uday Madkaikar – easily seen in other ways.
In Taleigo, the nomination of Tony Rodrigues, previously with BJP, has gained momentum when he took the power of the monser who had won there since 2002.
Rodolfo Fernandes, the son of the former Santa Cruz Mla Victoria, getting land in a constituency area has chosen the MLA Congress In six of the last seven elections, while in Cumbarjua Rajesh Faldesai was locked in a cornered three contest which also involved BJP and TMC.
At St Andre, Silveira only lost one election since 1999.
“Tiswadi is the stronghold of the Congress and the party has done well here historically, but in a state where individuals willing more than the party, we must see whether new faces work,” Said a poll observer.
After winning from three different constituencies since 2007, Monserrate is the biggest influencer in Taluka.
His wife Jennifer won in Taleigao on his own ‘generosary’, and helped Tony on a large scale to win in Santa Cruz in 2017.
However, at this time, Monserrate had not stepped into Santa Cruz.
First, of course, because of his choice – Former Taleigo Sarpanch Agnelo d’Cunha – Denied BJP ticket, while the battle with Utpal Parragar in Panaji means he doesn’t have too much time to campaigned elsewhere.
BJP realized the power of Monsererrate in Tiswadi when they decided to stick with him, ignoring UTPAL claims for party tickets in Panaji.
It still has to be seen if BJP has supported the right horse.