SANGUEM, AUG 25
While councillors and aspirants in Sanguem were in full campaign mode for the forthcoming municipal polls barely a fortnight ago, the situation is changed drastically now following the government’s proposal for compulsory reservation of seats to SC, ST and OBC.
The campaigning has almost come to a grinding halt except by some overenthusiastic candidates, who continue with their campaigning work with the same zeal.
The sole reason for taking a foot back is the failure of Director of Municipal Administration to declare the wards, which will be reserved for SC/ST or OBC candidates.
While most aspiring candidates have an idea as to which wards will be reserved for women candidates, nothing concrete is come about over the reservation criteria to be followed in selecting the wards to be reserved for SC/ST and OBC candidates.
However, some candidates here feel that reservation policy for SC/ST and OBC candidates will depend on the number of such voters residing in the respective wards, while some are of the opinion that wards for SC/ST and OBC candidates will be reserved on rotation basis as is otherwise done for women candidates.
From the situation presently prevailing in Sanguem, most sitting councillors, which includes Sanjay Raikar, Suryadatt Naik, Romualdo Fernandes, Agnelo D’Costa and John D’Costa are all set to contest the elections all over again.
Prominent among those who are likely to be fray in the ensuing elections and who are already on the campaigning trail are Sanguem Block GPCC President Dr Revansiddh Naik, former Sanguem Block GPCC president Caitano Martins Fernandes, Shrikant A Naik and Deepak Marathe.
Former SMC mayor Minguelinho D’Costa is also likely to be in fray in the ensuing elections. Wife of ruling vice chairperson Bonifacio Fernandes is also scheduled to contest from Taripanto and Ambdoi ward which is likely to be reserved for women candidates this time around.
With the reservation policy of the government still in dark, eyebrows are raised over the fate of a couple of candidates who have their vote banks in their respective wards, while things will be made difficult for Sanjay Raikar if his ward is reserved for SC/ST or OBC candidates.
Another sure win candidate Romualdo Fernandes will also face testing times if his present ward stands reserved for SC/ST or OBC candidate.
On the development front, Romualdo Fernandes is undoubtedly the voter’s choice from among the present sitting councilors as Fernandes, irrespective of which ward a voter’s hails, is always ready to help any person in need.
Fernandes since his getting elected to the post of councillor has won hearts of his voters and undoubtedly a sure win candidate even if he contests from the neighbouring ward.
Likewise, Sanjay Raikar also has his own vote bank, most of whom reside as tenants in the properties owned by him, but if his ward stands reserved then it will not be a cake walk for Raikar to get elected from the neighbouring wards.
