Team Herald
PANJIM: Sixty nine candidates on Tuesday have withdrawn their candidatures from the election process across five municipalities—Margao, Mormugao, Sanguem, Quepem and Mapusa—which are set to go for polls on March 21, leaving 366 in the battle ground.
Three candidates from Quepem Municipal council- Chetan Haldankar (Ward I), Suchita Shenvi Shirwaikar (Ward III) and Dayesh Naik (ward VII)- all backed by Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar, were elected unopposed.
Total 21 candidates each from Mormugao and Margao withdrew their nominations. In Mapusa 17 backed out, while in Quepem, eight withdrew from the fray. Sanguem municipal council also saw withdrawal of two nominations.
Of the total 366 candidates, Mormugao council has the maximum number of candidates- 112, followed by 90 in Margao, 80 in Mapusa, 43 in Quepem and 41 in Sanguem municipality.
Though the elections are not fought on party lines, the BJP, Congress backed candidates are in fray.
The counting will be on March 22 along with six other municipalities.
The fate of these municipalities, whose functioning is currently overseen by the Administrators, will be decided by the Supreme Court who has reserved its order in the matter pertaining to ward reservation.
