TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Councillor Gonzaco Rebello has emerged as a clear front runner of the ruling group in the Margao Municipal Council for the vacant post of MMC chairperson election for which is scheduled on Tuesday.
With Monday being the last day to file nomination papers, Gonzaco will file his nomination papers as a candidate of the ruling group, even as Sadanand Naik on Sunday told the media that he would file his papers for the coveted post tomorrow.
Sources in the ruling group led by former Chairperson Arthur D’Silva said that Gonzaco’s name was cleared at a meeting of the group at the residence of BJP leader Bhai Naik on Friday evening. At the meeting, which was attended by 10 members, Councillors Gonzaco and Avinash Shirodkar staked their claim for the post and the candidature of Gonzaco was cleared after he received the backing of eight members of the group.
Three-time Councillor Sadanand Naik, who was initially tipped to be a candidate of the ruling group, said he would contest the election scheduled on Tuesday. Sadanand’s candidature did not find favour with the ruling group as they perceived him as being a supporter of Curtorim Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco. Moreover, the ruling group distanced themselves with Sadanand and his Councillor wife Babita after the duo preferred to stay away from the group when it decided to support BJP South Goa candidate, Narendra Sawaikar in the Lok Sabha poll.
On paper, the ruling group has exuded confidence that Gonaco will make it to the Civic body with the help of four more Councillors. Sadanand, however, begged to differ. Claiming majority support in the 20-member Municipal body, Sadanand said the ruling group is left with only eight members, while exuding confidence that the remaining 12 Councillors would back his candidature.
Nomination papers for the vacant post of Chairperson will be accepted in the office of the Chief Officer till Monday noon.
Councillors Sadanand, claiming majority support in the 20-member municipal body, said the ruling group is left with only eight members, while exuding confidence that the remaining 12 Councillors would back his candidature
