SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Even as 863 candidates in the 33 village panchayats across Salcete gear up for the polls on Wednesday, citizens are clear that they will choose the candidate most likely to listen to their grievances and work towards fulfilling their needs at the village-level.
It is pertinent to note that the whole of Goa is watching the polls in Salcete, whose residents are considered proactive citizens, who do not shy away from raising their voices against anti-people projects.
While there are hundreds of new and young candidates contesting the polls this time, almost all the panchayat also have former panch members and sarpanchas throwing their hats in the ring again. Interestingly, 11 candidates have already been elected unopposed in Salcete.
Few of the prominent ones are Denis Dias, (Cavelossim), Basilio Fernandes (Camurlim), Sandra Fernandes (Carmona), Tamica Da Silva (Orlim), Menino Fernandes (Benaulim), Anthony alias Mam Fernandes (Colva), Johnson Coelho and others.
Felton Cardozo, a resident of Cavelossim told Herald that these elections provide the best opportunity to elect leaders that have genuine concern for the people of their village. "Many times we have witnessed that panch members hardly listen to the voices of the villagers, especially during the time of controversial issues. They need to stand behind the people. I will look for the candidate who will be there for the villagers", he said. Returning Officer Lashmikant Desai informed Herald that all arrangements have been put in place for the panchayat polls in the southern taluka.
"We hope the election proceedings go smoothly. The staff deployed at the polling booths have been instructed to help the voters, if any have difficulties", he said. Polling will commence at 8 am and will end at 5 pm.
Meanwhil, the Ponda police on Tuesday registered an offence against former Usgao Ganjem Sarpanch Tulshidas Gad (60) and Achut Usgaonkar(60) for violating the model code of conduct.
According to Ponda Police the two were caught red-handed at Tambdi Ghati, distributing paper pamphlets, which turned out to be campaign material for Deepali Tulshidas Gad, who is a candidate contesting from ward no.4 of Usgao Ganjem Panchayat.
