Team Herald
PANJIM: The Opposition parties are struggling to put up a collective fight against the BJP-backed panel for the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) elections.
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After Panaji MLA Babush Monserrate declared his panel for 30 wards followed by State Election Commission (SEC) announcing the poll schedule, the Opposition Congress and others seemed to be gearing up to battle it out for the CCP seats.
In the last three elections, Monserrate had enjoyed considerable support winning majority seats and this time being in the saffron party, he is posing a challenge to the Congress.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar said that the party has decided to support candidates supported by citizens’ panel.
“We will support candidates finalised by citizens panel. We will give decent option to the citizens of Panjim,” Chodankar said.
According to Chodankar, former MLA Dharma Chodankar who is in charge of Panaji Assembly Constituency along with former CCP mayor Surendra Furtado, deputy mayor Rudresh Chodankar, James Andrade, Armando Gonsalves and others are talking to the citizens to choose candidates to contest the CCP elections.
Former MLA Dharma Chodankar said that since municipal elections are not fought on party lines, Congress will support candidates contesting in the CCP elections.
Former CCP mayor and longest serving corporator Surendra Furtado said that he will contest the March 20 CCP polls. He however declined to disclose in his ward.
For Congress, the elections to the lone corporation appear to be a huge task considering party’s weak organisation in the capital city.
Meanwhile, Goa Forward Party (GFP) President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Monday ridiculed BJP for using party’s symbol in the advertisement mentioning names of candidates backed by the party.
“Why party symbol when elections are We were ready for it,” said Vijai.
According to Vijai, it was clear that the BJP government cannot win elections without cheating. They have to cheat (to win polls).
