FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: A total 423 candidates will contest the March 20 elections for the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP), six municipal councils, by-polls in one ward of Sakhalim Municipal Council, Navelim Zilla Panchayat (ZP) and 19 wards of various village panchayats.
Two candidates – Nirmala Sakhalkar in ward 8 of Valpoi Municipal Council and Suchita Shirvoikar in ward 3 of Quepem Municipal Council – were declared elected unopposed on Saturday.
Similarly, four candidates were declared elected unopposed in the panchayat by-elections. They are Vitho Varak in ward 2 of Mauxi panchayat and Nikita Narvekar in ward 1 of Bhiroda panchayat in Sattari taluka; Stefanie Lucas in ward of Chicalim panchayat in Mormugao taluka and Chandrika Gaonkar in ward 7 of Rivona village panchayat in Sanguem taluka.
A total of 95 candidates will now contest in 30 wards of CCP after 11 candidates withdrew their nominations. Two former corporators Bharati Heble and Pundalik Raut Dessai were among 11 who withdrew from the fray. However, Bharati Heble is contesting in ward 4 where she is locked in a straight fight with former Mayor Carolina Po.In CCP, there will be straight fights in 13 wards between candidates backed by Panjim BJP MLA Atanasion Babush Monserrate and “We Ponjekar”, a panel supported by prominent citizens of Panjim. The highest seven candidates are in wards 28 where three former corporators are vying for the seat.
Meanwhile, Acacio Luis Tavares who is contesting in ward 29 clarified that he is contesting as a people’s independent candidate and that he has not taken support from any party or any panel.
Also a total of 273 candidates will contest from six municipal councils after 49 candidates withdrew from the fray. The highest 68 candidates are in the fray for 14 wards of Bicholim Municipal Council, 66 for Cuncolim Municipal Council, 48 for Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council, 37 for Pernem Municipal Council, 31 for Canacona Municipal Council and 23 for Valpoi Municipal Council.
Eleven candidates each withdrew their nomination in Curchorem-Cacora and Canacona Municipal Councils, while, 10 withdrew in Valpoi, eight each in Bicholim and Pernem and one in Cuncolim Municipal Council.
There will be a straight fight for ward 9 of Sakhalim Municipal Council between Dashrath alias Krishna Ajgaonkar and Rajendra Amshekar after one candidate withdrew from the fray.
Navelim Zilla Panchayat (ZP) will witness a quadrangular fight after three candidates withdrew their nominations. The candidates in the fray are two time ZP member Edwin alias Cipru Cardozo contesting as independent and three party candidates namely Pratima Coutinho of Congress, Satyavijay Naik of BJP and Matilda D’Silva of AAP.
Also 49 candidates have remained in the fray for 18 wards of various village panchayats after 13 candidates withdrew their nominations.
