Mandrem: The constituency revolted against its incumbent MLA and sitting Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar in the elections of 2017 getting Congress candidate Dayanand Sopte to power.
But one-and-half year down the line, Sopte shocked them to the core, leaving them to search for a fresh face. Looking at a crowd of more than 250 people who gathered at Mandrem in support of social worker Jit Arolkar, the change seems to be imminent in the coming Mandrem by-election.
Arolkar, a social activist, had shot to fame when he helped a group of people from Mandrem who had stuck in Kerala floods. After Sopte’s failure to help them, Arolkar had managed to get them safely till Bangalore and from there he personally flew them to Goa.
The current political situation in this constituency which has Parsekar fuming against its own party and Congress not having a formidable candidate to contest, Arolkar might emerge as a challenge for the conventional candidates.
Congress leaders Ramakant Khalap and Jitendra Deshprabhu has shown their willingness to contest from Mandrem.
Speaking to Goa News Hub, Arolkar said that the people have lost faith in elected representatives.
“They had supported congress party and now they feel cheated. When there is a by election, the candidate who can work for the people will get elected,” he added.
“Pernem people always have their self respect more important, if their self respect is hurt then they will teach lesson,” he commented.
Arolkar said that he is getting good support from the people.
When asked which party ticket he would like to contest, Arolkar said “I will go by what people tells me, but at present I will be contesting as an Independent.”
