MARGAO: Around 19 candidates filed their nominations for 7 Zilla Panchayat constituencies in Margao on Wednesday. These included candidates of political parties and those who filed as independent.
In Congress, five candidates filed their nominations: Suzy Fernandes (Colva), Royla Fernandes (Benaulim), Joseph Vaz (Raia), Julio Fernandes, (Velim, Romana Rodrigues (Nuvem) and Sonia Fernandes (Guirdolim).
The nomination of Royla from Benaulim, who had earlier contested as an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate in the Benaulim Assembly elections and had managed to get a decent vote share, has become a major talking point in Salcete.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar, who was present during the filing of Guirdolim candidate Sonia Fernandes nominations claimed that Congress will sweep Salcete this time. “Given the welcome Congress candidates have received during the filing of nominations, we are sure that will sweep Salcete in the ZP polls,” said Chodankar.
He further explained that when they had earlier decided that they shouldn’t fight elections on party’s symbol, a large number of people had come to them and demanded that the party contests on Congress symbol.
“When we decided that we shouldn’t fight election on party symbol people came to us and demanded that it happens on Congress symbol. That is because the mandate that was given to Congress in the last Assembly election was snatched away from the party and this will be avenged by the people,” Girish added.
He further stated that it was Congress, which had given the panchayat powers, through the 73rd and 74th Amendment. “We will form the government in 2022 but today we again assure that we will give more powers to the Panchayati Raj institutions,” added Girish.
Meanwhile, NCP filed the nominations of three candidates, namely
Sarita Fernandes (Curtorim); Menino Fernandes de Bandar (Benaulim) and Vania Baptista (Colva).
NCP Goa president Jose NCP Jose Philip D’souza expressed confidence about their party’s chances in the ZP elections and said they have chosen winnable candidates. “We are thinking of Goa and Goans,” said NCP MLA Churchill Alemao, while talking about the party’s agenda and their party’s candidate selection.
Two of AAP’s candidates also filed their nominations, namely, Hanzel Fernandes from Benaulim and Rodolfina Vaz from Guirdolim.
“Looking at the political scenario across Goa and India I have decided to enter politics to create change. I will attempt to do for my constituency what AAP has done for Delhi,” said Fernandes.
There were also two independents who filed their nominations: Andrea Fernandes (Curtorim) and Cruz Pereira (Raia).
