Battle call for Panjim

Battle call for Panjim
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Well, the stage is now set for a four way battle for the 30 seats in the Corporation of the City of Panjim elections, On March 13.
While the battle is straight between the panels floated by the Education Minister Babush Monseratte and Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar, the NCP and a few independent candidates have also submitted their nominations.
The CCP polls would also be a dress rehearsal for the forthcoming assembly polls to be held next year with Babush making his intentions clear to fight from Panjim constituency. However, the nominations by NCP and the independents could be advantage Parrikar as it could upset Babush’s applecart.
The fight is expected to turn bitter, with allegations being made by candidates of rival camps that Monserrate has been inciting voters with goodies.
But the question now is will Panjimites wake up and vote for better people to government the Corporation?
The last five years in CCP saw the scma which could outnumber scams in all municipalities put together in Goa.
The shop allotment scam, the parking scam, the house tax scam are the big ones.  All accused had found a place in the panel initially floated by the Education
If the pulse of the Panjimites is to be considered, the people want change and root out orrupt people who have taken the corporation to the door of the bankruptcy. For Babush, this election is much more than just taking supremacy in the CCP. He needs to make inroads into the Parrikar’s constituency before he could announce his candidature for assembly polls.
However, his image in Panjim has taken a beating due to the scams by his corporators and his inability to keep them under control.