Team Herald
PONDA: Twelve persons file nominations on Wednesday, taking the total number of nominations filed for Ponda civic polls to 42. On April 13, the last day of filing nominations, more candidates are expected to file their papers.
Those who filed nominations on Wednesday are: Vibha Naik and Chandrika Naik (Ward 1), Sanjay Naik (ward 2), Dioguinho D’Souza (ward 3), Varsha Verenkar (ward 4), Padmaja Naik (ward 5), Juliana Gomes and Manisha Poi (ward 9), Ritesh Naik and Brahamanad Naik (ward 11), Shaikh Abdul Shaikh (ward 14) and Mandanant Verenkar (ward 15).
Meanwhile, the BJP has formed a panel titled “Ponda Citizens Committee” to contest the elections.
At the last elections to the Ponda Municipal Council, the BJP-MGP combine won from 13 wards as against just one ward won by the Congress.
But this time, both the parties have decided to test their fortune independently with the help of some like-minded candidates.
Speaking to media, Sunil Desai, the convenor of the panel, said that this time he (Sunil Desai) would not contest the civic polls as he had contested the last assembly election from Ponda, but instead he would focus on strengthening the BJP base in Ponda.
Desai also said that Chairperson Radhika Naik too would not contest the election. Except the two, all the other sitting councillors would contest the elections. “The BJP would contest from and win all the 15 wards,” he said.
When pointed out that the BJP-MGP combine managed to win only 13 wards last time, how could the BJP hope to win all the 15 wards this time all alone, Desai said, “Even though the BJP and MGP are not contesting the elections jointly, the Congress will not benefit from it and would not win a single seat.” Sitting BJP councillors Irvin Soares, Shantaram Colvekar, Venktesh Naik were present at the press briefing.
