PANJIM: Barring Salcete taluka, some of the Assembly segments played a significant role in ensuring Capt Viriato Fernandes’ victory in the South Goa Parliamentary constituency, on Tuesday.
The results showed that there was an almost 70 per cent drop in votes polled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) compared to the votes polled by the party in Assembly polls held two years ago.
Salcete taluka comprising maximum eight Assembly constituencies had always been a bastion of the Congress party, which often helped the grand old party to win South Goa Parliamentary seat for the maximum term. Capt Viriato took formidable lead in seven constituencies except Margao, where the BJP managed to secure a lead of 1,323 votes, much to the chagrin of eight-time Margao MLA Digambar Kamat.
There were rumours that Kamat would be inducted in the Cabinet after the conclusion of Lok Sabha polls and now there is a question mark on it and the BJP high command might take a call on his ministerial berth.
What has also shocked the BJP leaders is that the party had polled 43 per cent votes as against 53 per cent votes polled by the Congress when Kamat was its MLA, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
In Cortalim Assembly segment the Congress secured a lead of 2,923 votes.
This happened in spite of independent MLA Anton Vas extending his support to the BJP candidate.
In 2019 polls, the Congress had secured a lead of only 84 votes.
Similarly in 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Ponda Assembly segment, had given 57 per cent votes to BJP as against 41 per cent votes to the Congress. But in this election, the BJP could secure a lead of 5,598 votes. In Shiroda, it was 60 per cent and 34 per cent five years back but now the saffron party got a lead of 4,985 votes lead. In Marcaim, it was 52 per cent votes for the BJP as against 46 per cent polled by Congress in 2019 but this time, though the BJP gained, it could not do much damage to the Congress.
In Mormugao constituency too, BJP had polled 60 per cent votes as against 38 per cent votes polled by Congress. But in this election, the Congress fared better and reduced the BJP lead to 2,065 votes. In Vasco constituency, the BJP had polled 55 per cent votes as against 41 per cent votes polled by Congress in 2019 election and now the lead was reduced to 2,631.
In Dabolim, it was 59 per cent votes polled by BJP and 36 per cent voted by the Congress. But in 2014 polls, the Congress managed to reduce the lead to 2,734 votes giving enough indication of Capt Viriato was posing a threat to longest serving MLA and Minister Mauvin Godinho.
In 2019, the BJP had polled 56 per cent votes as against 39 per cent votes polled by the Congress in Curchorem constituency. But in this election, the Congress reduced the lead to 1,697 votes.
The result of Lok Sabha polls in South Goa Parliamentary constituency showed that the margin of votes by the BJP was shrinking even as it secured substantial lead only in Marcaim, Sanvordem and Canacona Assembly constituencies.
The result was also reminiscent of the Opinion Poll as similar kind of trend was seen then.
The new conquest elected Congress candidate Capt Viriato.
70% drop in votes polled by BJP
The results showed that there was an almost 70 per cent drop in votes polled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) compared to the votes polled by the party in Assembly polls held two years ago.