Doctor, astrologer, teacher jump into poll fray

PANAJI: A doctor and astrologer, vocational teacher, social worker and insurance loss surveyor are up against national party bigwigs this Lok Sabha polls.

First time candidate from South Goa, Dr Kalidas Vaingankar from Sancoale doesn’t exactly fit the mould of a typical politician, but that hasn’t stopped him from throwing his hat into the ring.

A practising doctor and part time astrologer and vastu consultant — needless to say he has predicted his win — Vaingankar was forced to contest as an independent following a dispute within Niz Goenkar Revolution Front. He says he is contesting as an independent only on paper and has the party’s support.

If an MBBS from Goa Medical College and postgraduate diploma in management with specialisation in finance from Goa Institute of Management (GIM) is not enough, 39-year-old Vaingankar also has a BA in Vedic Astrology and diploma in Vastu Shastra.

Does he stand a chance against political bigwigs from national parties? “I wouldn’t have filed my nomination if I hadn’t predicted (through astrology) that I would win. The national parties are disconnected from local issues. A change is required, and we need a regional party that knows Goa. Fifty percent of Goa is finished. We need special status,” he says, adding that he has filed numerous complaints and cases against illegal hill cutting.

“I will use my MBA to bring about the right changes when elected. If I get into the Union health ministry, I will use my expertise and experience to bring in reforms,” the former medical officer with the directorate of health services adds.

What are his expert predictions for the Lok Sabha elections at the centre? “I have not done that prediction as of now,” he says.

He is up against sitting BJP MP and advocate Narendra Sawaikar, former MP, higher secondary teacher and senior Congress leader Francisco Sardinha, former senior bureaucrat Elvis Gomes representing AAP, Shiv Sena candidate, social worker and arts graduate Rakhi Naik, and the youngest candidate in the fray 28-year-old Mayur Khanconkar from Canacona who completed his BA.

Another first time contender is 40-year-old vocational teacher Amit Atmaram Korgaonkar from Salvador do Mundo. The first candidate to be fielded by the Republican Party of India (Kamble group) in any election in Goa, he is vying for the Lok Sabha seat.

“I have done thorough research on the duties of MPs over the past two years and I’m not very happy with the way things are going. I want to take the vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar forward and uplift the lower classes. I want to bring together people of all castes and creeds,” says the arts graduate Korgaonkar, who teachers air-conditioning refrigeration, phone repair and basic electricals at ITI Comba.

Contesting the election has been possible only after taking a small loan and with a little help from his friends, he says. “I don’t believe in taking donations. That’s the root cause of corruption. If I’m not indulging in corruption now, I don’t plan on doing it later on.”

Korgaonkar is up against sitting and four-time BJP MP Shripad Naik an arts graduate, Congress candidate and higher secondary teacher Girish Chodankar (MCom, BED).

AAP’s Pradeep Padgaonkar a retired journalist and commerce graduate, social worker and former general secretary of the Mahila Congress in Goa, Aishwarya Salgaonkar attached to Niz Goenkar Revolution Front but contesting on an independent ticket, and mechanical engineer and insurance loss surveyor Bhagwant Kamat are also in the fray for the North Goa seat.