By ROQUE  DIAS | NT

VELIM:  The sitting MLA and Minister for Forest, Mr Filipe Neri
Rodrigues, has again locked horns  with his rival, independent candidate, Mr Benjamin D’Silva in the Velim constituency.

The three-time MLA of Velim, Mr Rodrigues, had defeated his rival earlier in a straight fight in the 2007 assembly election.

This time, Mr  Micheal  Benny D’Costa, secretary of the Goa Seamen Association, is contesting as the  candidate of  All  India  Trinamool Congress, while Mr Cliffton  D’Souza is the fray as an independent candidate.

Mr Rodrigues, who is eyeing re-election, seems not to be taking things lightly, for his battle ground has been extended.

Around 9,000 voters, spread across the areas of  Sarzora,  St Jose De Areal, Dicarpale, are added to the constituency due to the delimitation process.

This is yet another constituency where the Congress candidate is fighting it out with the independent candidate in Salcete.

It appears that Mr  Rodrigues has to do  more  spadework to win and maintain the record he had achieved during 2007 assembly election wherein he had gained 7,965 votes.

But, this time his rival, Mr D’Silva is in the race with a renewed force.

His campaign is gathering steam against the sitting MLA, with the support from the locals of Velim and Ambelim, his home turf. During  2007 election,  there were 20,405 voters in the constituency and, of these 13,182 constituents had voted on the polling
day. Mr Rodrigues had polled 7,965 votes, while Mr D’Silva had got 5,211 votes. This time, number of voters has swelled
to 29,336. The sarpanch of village panchayat of St Jose De Areal, Ms Martha D’ Costa and Chinchinim sarpanch, Mr  Santos Rebello, said that they are supporting the sitting MLA, for  he has carried out the development works in their villages and  provided government jobs to the needy and deserving  persons from the  panchayat areas.  

On the other hand, the sarpanch of Ambelim village panchayat has extended support to Mr D’Silva claiming that the  MLA  neglected their  areas.

Another villager of  Baida, Chinchinim, Mr J Pereira, mentioned that his relative was provided a government  job, and therefore his family supports Mr Rodrigues. However, interestingly,  a local at the  Chinchinim market, said  that they are  for "change this time". Mr D’Silva, who has focused more on Velim, Ambelim and Assolna areas and held various corner meetings,  needs to work hard in the newly added places to provide a tough competition to the sitting MLA.

Mr D’Silva claimed that there was no required development in the constituency.

The sitting MLA, however, countered his statement stating that people of Velim knows what development works he  carried out in Velim.