Canacona wakes up to municipal elections
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, AUG 20
With an eye on the fast approaching elections to the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC), hectic activities have begun with some politicians commencing corner meetings in the town.
It is learnt that Gazette Publication of delimitation of all the 10 wards is also received and there is no change in any of the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) wards, paving way for the candidates to contest in the existing line of boundaries and same voters approached earlier.
“I have seen the government gazette publishing the delimitation of municipal wards. There is no change in all the 10 wards for CMC,” said CMC Chairperson Shamsundar Dessai.
Sources informed Herald that at least two corner meetings are held in municipal areas, actively participated by a taluka MLA, who lately is on a serious drive to establish his base beyond the assembly segment he is presently representing.
Ruling councilors are not lagging behind either and if CMC Chairperson Dessai is to be believed, a panel of 10 candidates will be fielded in the October civic polls.
The present ruling dispensation has six councillors, while the other four chairpersons are believed to have different affiliations and termed as opposition councillors.
Sources informed that all the six ruling councillors are likely to file their applications provided the reservation of seats for women, ST and SC doesn’t interfere.
“Even if such circumstance arises, the next of kin of the ruling councillors is likely to be fielded, while close aides of the ruling are reportedly tipped to contest municipal elections as ruling panel members in the wards represented by opposition councillors,” added sources.
Interestingly, the fate of Ponsulem ward represented by chairperson Dessai is still unknown, as earlier indications have suggested that the ward will be reserved for women.
“It is still unclear, but I am given to understand that my ward will be open for contest and won’t be a reserved one. I hope to contest from my own ward,” reiterated Dessai.
As the assembly elections are likely within the next two years and the taluka’s two assembly segments will henceforth elect only one MLA, establishing base by few politicians, especially from the 40th Poinguinim constituency are attempting to make forays into the 39th Canacona Assembly segment areas.
Sources informed that Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, who in recent times seen more active in Canacona assembly segment than his own Poinguinim constituency, at times reportedly annoying his party colleague and representing MLA is likely to field his own panel in the forthcoming municipal elections.
If the same sources are to be believed, Tawadkar has already chaired two corner meetings in two municipal wards and is hotly on the track to hold more such meetings.
Another politician from State’s southern-most assembly segment with his eyes on common Canacona constituency is learnt as attempting to make in roads with either a tie-up with the present ruling councillors or floating a new panel.
Sources informed that Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot is lying low and reportedly awaiting to strike chord at the right opportunity in the forthcoming municipal elections, while yet another seasoned politician from the taluka has already begun to build his own team and even finalized some candidates in few of the 10 council wards.
