PANJIM: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed panels won Mormugao, Quepem and Sanguem municipal councils while, Congress-Goa Forward Party MLAs retained their hold over Margao and two independents candidates hold the key in Mapusa as rival panels could not secure a majority in this town.
In March, except for Cuncolim Municipal Council, BJP-backed panels had led in five municipal councils even as it overcame internal differences in Canacona and Curchorem-Cacora municipal councils.
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In Mormugao Municipal Council, the panel backed by BJP won 19 out of 25 wards while, in Quepem it won nine of the 13 wards. In Sanguem though BJP had initially not declared its candidates, former MLA Subhash Faldessai managed to seek support of an Independent councillor and immediately posed for a photograph with six councillors after results of all wards were declared.
Sangameshwar Naik, son of former minister late Pandu Vasu Naik was elected from Ward 8 of Sanguem Municipal Council.
In Margao, it went as expected as Congress-GFP MLAs alliance retained its hold over the council. Fatorda Forward panel supported by GFP president and MLA Vijai Sardesai won 8 out of 11 wards that fall in the limits of the Fatorda Assembly constituency.
Also a candidate Nimesia Faleiro backed by Fatorda Forward emerged the winner in Ward 23 which falls in the Curtorim constituency taking its tally to nine. However, party’s former Mahila chief Adv Bi Ashma was defeated in Ward 25, which is also part of Curtorim constituency.
Similarly, Margao Model panel fielded by Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat won eight of the 11 seats. Kamat’s supporter Mahesh Amonkar, who had rebelled and contested in Ward 15 was declared elected, defeating sitting councillor Manoj Masukar.
It now remains to be seen who the joint panel elects as chairperson and vice-chairperson. In 2015, a councillor belonging to the Fatorda Forward panel had been elected chairperson on the basis of winning more seats.
Margao Vibrant panel backed by the BJP had to be content with 7 seats. The panel received a major jolt when BJP office-bearer Sharmad Pai Raiturkar, who is considered as the party’s face in Margao was defeated in Ward 12.
Also Parag Gajanan Raikar and Sunil K B Naik, both sons of former MLAs and fielded by Margao Vibrant lost in Wards 18 and 22 respectively. Raikar had quit Congress and joined BJP just a few months ago.
In Quepem, the biggest upset was the defeat of six-time councillor and former chairperson Manuel Colaco. Also the hopes of another former chairperson Alexandrinha Caetaninha Pires and Shreya Velip, daughter of former Minister Prakash Velip were dashed.
In Mormugao, the BJP-supported panel performed better winning 19 out of 25 wards. Mormugao Warriors, a panel supported by Congress vice president Sankalp Amonkar and another panel backed by councillor Daji Salkar won two wards each while, Independents won in two wards.
Prominent among the winners were sitting councillors Fredrick Henriques, Leo Jose Rodrigues, Damodar Kaskar and Shradha Amonkar, wife of Congress vice president Sankalp Amonkar, Priya Raut, wife of Mormugao chairperson Nandadeep Raut, Shami Salkar, wife of sitting councillor Krishna alias Daji Salkar, Kalaiyarasi Swami, wife of Dhanpal Swami and journalist-turned politician Sudesh Bhosale.
Former chairpersons Sharad alias Nitin Chopdekar, Shekhar Khadapkar and Tara Kerkar, former chairperson and sitting councillors Bhavana Bhosale and Lavinia D’Souza, former vice chairperson and sitting councillors Saifulla Khan and Murari Bandekar and former councillors Premanand Nanoskar and Neny D’Souza, wife of former minister and NCP State president Jose Philip D’Souza ate humble pie.
In Mapusa, two former councillors Anand Bhaidkar and Prakash Bhivshet hold the key as neither the BJP-backed panel nor the Mhapsekarancho Ekvott panel could secure a majority as they both won nine seats each in the 20-member council.
Both, Bhaidkar and Bhivshet had contested as Independents without joining any panel. Bhivshet’s supporters said he will take a decision about extending his support to one of the panels after recovering from COVID-19.
In the by-election held for Ward 2 of Karapur-Sarvan Village Panchayat, Ajas Hamid Khan was declared elected. He polled 190 votes as against 144 votes polled by Rajesh Naik and 143 votes secured by Balchandra Bakre. Two other candidates Siddhesh Chari and Premanand Sawant polled 41 and 13 votes respectively.
The by-election was necessitated after sitting panchayat member Mahesh Sawant was elected Zilla Panchayat (ZP) member in December last year.
Similarly, Simon Fernandes was declared elected from Ward 2 of Velim Village Panchayat by polling 136 votes. He defeated Alvito Fernandes (106 votes) in a straight battle. The by-poll was caused due to death of sitting panchayat member Bushy Santana Luis D’Costa.
