PANJIM: The candidates of a panel backed by Revenue Minister and Panjim MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate filed their nomination papers for Taleigao village panchayat elections on Wednesday. They filed their nominations for the elections scheduled on April 28.
Monserrate has fielded candidates in all 11 wards under the panel called Taleigao Progressive Development Front.
The candidates, who filed their nominations were Siddhi Kerkar (ward 1), Agnelo Da Cunha (ward 2), Helena Pereira (ward 3), Ratika Gawas (ward 4), Ushant Kankonkar (ward 5), Estella D’Souza (ward 6), Janu Rosario (ward 7), Maria Fernandes (ward 8), Sanjana Diukar (ward 9), Sagar Bandekar (ward 10), and Sydney Barreto (ward 11). Monserrate and his wife Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate were also present at the time of filing nomination papers.
The filing of nominations for the panchayat elections commenced from Monday, April 8. All together 11 nominations were received by the election authorities on Wednesday. As per the election schedule, announced by the State Election Commission (SEC), the last date of filing the nomination papers is April 18, 2024.
Babush’s panel comprises over 50 per cent women candidates. He has fielded Siddi Kerkar (ward 1), Agnelo Da Cunha (ward 2), Helena Pereira (ward 3), Ratika Gawas (ward 4), Ushant Kankonkar (ward 5), Maria Fernandes (ward 8), Sanjana Diukar (ward 9), Sagar Bandekar (ward 10) and Sydney Barreto (ward 11).
Sarpanch Janu Rosario, former sarpanch and panchayat members Agnelo Da Cunha, Estella D’Souza, Maria Fernandes and Sydney Barreto are recontesting the elections.
In 2019 elections, Monserrate supported panel had won all 11 wards, with Agnelo Da Cunha being declared elected unopposed.
As per the State Election Commission (SEC), there are 19,349 eligible voters out of whom 9,206 are men and 10,143 women. The panchayat elections are to be held on non-party lines and the votes are to be cast through ballot papers. The expenditure limit for every contesting candidate is Rs 40,000.
