PONDA: With 20 candidates filing their nominations on the last day (Tuesday), the number of candidates who have filed their nominations for the forthcoming Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) elections stand at 61.
This includes many fresh candidates, besides old faces, including sitting and former councillors, who have fielded their daughters and wives as their wards are reserved for women and OBCs.
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Seven incumbent councillors file nominations
Out of the 15-member PMC, seven sitting councillors have filed nominations to contest the polls. While among the remaining eight sitting councillors, some have preferred not to contest the elections, while some have got their family members — wife, children or husband — to file nominations as either their ward is reserved for OBC or ladies. Besides this, former councillors also filed their nominations or encouraged the family members to file nominations.
The seven out of 15 incumbent councillors who filed their nominations include Chairperson Ritesh Naik, Councillors Vishwanath Dalvi, Anand Naik, Geetali Talaulikar, Venktesh Naik, Chandrakala Naik and Virendra Dhavlikar.
Councillor Vishwanath Dalvi is also BJP Block President and contesting for the third time from Ward No 7, while Chairperson Ritesh is contesting this time from Ward No 5, reserved for OBC.
Sitting Councillor Geetali Talavalikar and her husband Rajesh Talaulikar also filed their nominations from different wards.
In-laws in the fray
Sitting Councillor Venktesh Naik and his sister-in-law Councillor Chandrakala Naik last time contested from Ward Nos 5 and 4 respectively. But this time, both of them are contesting from Ward No 4.
Sitting Councillor Shantaram Colvekar, who is not contesting as his ward is reserved, got his wife Deepa Colvekar to file her nomination from Ward No 10. Similarly Leviya, wife of sitting Councillor William Aguiar, also filed nomination. William is not contesting and fielded his wife.
Daughters of sitting,
former councillors
file nominations
Pratiksha Naik, daughter of sitting Councillor Pradeep Naik filed nomination from Ward No 8. Similarly, Shublaxmi Shinkre, daughter of former councillor Shailendra Shinkre filed her nomination from Ward No 11; Sampada Naik, daughter of former councillor Kishore Naik had filed her nomination from Ward No 15.
Former councillor Vincent Fernandes, Vidya Punalekar, Shivanand Sawant filed their nominations. Social worker Viraj Sapre also filed his nomination.
Further, both sons of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, including Chairperson Ritesh Naik and Roy Naik also filed nominations.
