The victory of South Goa Congress candidate Viriato Fernandes draws a compelling parallel to the historic Opinion Poll of 1967. While not an exact replica, there are striking similarities.
The decisive momentum for his victory over formidable BJP candidate Pallavi Dempo in the 2024 Parliamentary election shifted significantly in Salcete taluka, much like in the Opinion Poll.
Despite Dempo's backing from the ruling government, its machinery, and substantial financial resources from both the government and her industrial house, the people's power in Salcete countered her lead in 11 of the 20 assembly constituencies.
Viriato's victory gained momentum from key areas such as Nuvem, Curtorim, Fatorda, Benaulim, Navelim, Velim, and Cuncolim. However, Goa’s self proclaimed Godman and Margao MLA, Digambar Kamat, gave the BJP a minimal lead of 86 votes, which was more embarrassing than celebratory.
Similar to the anti-merger movement's success in Bardez and Tiswadi during the Opinion Poll, Viriato also led in Cortalim and Quepem. The BJP government, determined to secure both parliamentary seats in Goa, left no stone unturned. They employed their machinery, Christian ministers, MLAs, supporters, other parties, independent candidates, and financial power, even resorting to a slander campaign to derail the INDIA bloc campaign in South Goa. However, the Kargil soldier, Viriato, prevailed, and the BJP's efforts failed.
The support from Salcete's assembly segments was crucial in defeating the ideologically divisive party, but the voters in the rest of South Goa's assembly constituencies also played their part. The BJP's leads in other constituencies were minimal, indicating a clear message from the voters: dissatisfaction with the Modi government at the Centre and the Pramod Sawant government in Goa.
Kudos to all the voters who cast their votes for Viriato and the Congress. Despite the BJP's efforts to dismantle and dismember the Congress' grassroots committees, freeze their accounts, and stop their financial flow, they couldn't prevent voters from choosing Congress.
Another takeaway from the South Goa election is the recurring responsibility of the people of Salcete, or Xaxtikars, to save whatever remains of Goa, once again drawing parallels to the historic Opinion Poll.
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