Monday noon is the time set by the Panchayat Director Gurudas Pilarnekar to file nomination for the two posts of chairperson and vice chairperson of Zilla Panchayats.
BJP leadership comprising of party President Vinay Tendulkar and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar had a meeting with the party ZP members from South Goa in Margao on Sunday morning. The meeting was called to ascertain the views of the seven ZP members in respect of their choice of candidate for the top slot.
After the meeting, Tendulkar told Herald that the three names came up for consideration for the top post, including that of two-time ZP member Navnath Naik, former Rumdamol Sarpanch and Davorlim ZP member Ulhas Tuenkar and Deepak Naik.
He pointed out that all the seven party members have left it for the party leadership to take a call on the choice of candidate for the top seat, saying they will be abide by the decision. “Since Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is out of station, we could not finalise the names. Tomorrow, the party leadership is meeting in Panjim at 10 am to take a final call,” he added.
Replying to a question, Tendulkar said that since the Alliance partner MGP has four members in the South ZP body, the post of vice chairperson will go to the party.
In the meantime, Goa Vikas Party Supremeo Mickky Pacheco has said that he has conveyed his party’s opinion in the election of the new ZP Chairperson. “Since our four-time ZP member, Nelly Rodrigues had been the ZP chairperson twice in the past, it’s not fair to ask for the vice chairperson’s post for her.”
We have left it for the alliance to take the necessary call in view of the numbers,” Mickky said.
Incidentally, the 12-member group of Independent ZP members are waiting for the ruling Alliance to unveil their candidates for the post of chairperson and vice chairperson.
Curtorim ZP member Clafacio Dias said that 12-member group of Independents would take a call on contesting the election for the two posts only after the BJP announces its candidates. “We will wait till Monday morning to decide our strategy,” he said.
