PANAJI: Caetano Silva will have scores to settle once the elections are done and dusted. The Benaulim MLA, among the first catholic MLA to criticize the Church circular that sought to keep "communal forces" at bay in the parliamentary election, has been left fuming at how priests have turned the heat with their sermons and even separate individual preaching.

"They had a retreat here and people were clearly told not to vote for the BJP," said the Goa Vikas Party MLA whose party supports the BJP-led state government.

"I don't have a problem with the (Church) circular but several priests crossed their brief. I was individually targeted and I cannot let that pass," he added, standing a few metres from Our Lady of Mercy Church or Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Piedade in Colva on a hot election morning.

The personal attack, according to the MLA himself, came from a priest who claimed that the Benaulim MLA's victory in the assembly elections two years ago was a result of "goat sacrifices".

"I am going to meet the priest after the elections. I want to face him, question him," said Caetano or Caitu, as he is popularly known in this part of the world.

The role of the Church, and consequently the priests in parishes, has been the talking point in minority-dominated Salcete taluka on the day of parliamentary polls. Just like Caitu, sweating profusely on the Colva beach road while seeking votes for the BJP, several other MLAs owing allegiance to the ruling party in Goa, have doubled their efforts to convince voters that neither the BJP nor its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi can cause harm.

"This is the first time I have voted for the BJP in my life. I see no harm in that because voting for the corrupt and good-for-nothing Congress is even worse. For two years BJP has been in power in Goa yet the catholics have not been harmed in any way," said one voter who followed Caitu wherever he went. His wife, he said, was an assistant moderator in the parish council.

Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado has been up and running since 6am, ensuring that the booth-level workers have taken their seats. Never mind that no other party -- except for Churchill Alemao's Trinamool Congress in some booths -- has made their presence felt in many booths across the constituency.

"People were clearly told this morning (at Mass) not to vote for the BJP. I'm a bit worried because of that," said Avertano, the minister for fisheries and labour.

Despite the strong and unequivocal call from the Church, Avertano claimed the BJP will get a "sure-shot" lead. "If all goes well, the lead will surprise many," said Avertano, whose meeting at Navelim had evoked a strong response not too long ago.

In Velim constituency, where the voters constitute at least 80% Catholics, MLA Benjamin Silva, although supporting the government, has decided to play safe. "I am neutral," said Benjamin, enjoying his lunch at his Ambelim residence, while other MLAs grind it out in the heat and dust of electioneering.

"The Church has made it clear that they are not in favour of the BJP. I couldn't do anything contrary but if you ask me personally, the party will get enough votes from here," said Benjamin.

As per rough calculations, the BJP -- even during the time when former MLA Felipe Neri Rodrigues was on their side and went to almost every house to seek votes for the party -- the party did not touch 3,000. This time, Benjamin said, the 15,000-odd votes could be split equally between the BJP, Congress and TMC. Not bad, the BJP would say.

"If you had listened to the sermon, you would never vote for BJP," said Jaju Fernandes, a dramatist who has thrown his weight behind Churchill Alemao.

Fifteen minutes before closing, when Churchill himself makes a late entry at the polling booth bang opposite Trinity Church in Benaulim, he demands a ground report.

"Can you believe Catholics have voted for the BJP," one lady asked him. "Really?" Churchill sought to know in return.

Churchill was not the only one surprised.

