PORVORIM: Mapsekars have given a clear mandate to the BJP-backed Mapusa Development Front (MDF) to rule Mapusa for the next five years. MDF has swept the polls, winning 16 of the 20 wards. Fourteen of the winners are new faces.
The counting started in the morning and ended by 1 pm. Recounting was sought by candidates from Wards 2, 4, 14, 16, 17 and 20, and these results were declared by 3.30 pm.
The elected MDF candidates are: Martin Carasco – Ward 3, Swapnil Harmalkar – Ward 4, Anant Mishal – Ward 6, Francisco Carvalho – Ward 7, Marlyn D’Souza – Ward 8, Rayan Braganza – Ward 9, Tushar Tople – Ward 10, Sandeep Falari – Ward 12, Joshua D’Souza – Ward 13, Dipti Lanzekar – Ward 14, Swapnil Shirodkar – Ward 15, Vibha Salgaonkar – Ward 16, Rajsing Rane – Ward 17, Rohan Kavlekar – Ward 18, Sudhir Kandolkar – Ward 19 and Kavita Arlekar – Ward 20.
The other four winners are independent candidates Chandrashekar Benkar – Ward 1, Alpa Bhaidker – Ward 2, Madhumita Narvekar – Ward 5 and Annie Alfonso – Ward 11.
Addressing the press at his residence, Deputy Chief Minister and Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza stated, ‘This is a victory for democracy. For the first time in the history of Mapusa Municipal Council, a panel has secured 80 percent of the seats.”
“The people have reposed confidence in me and the MDF candidates. Among the old faces, those who have maintained a rapport with the residents of their respective wards have won by a big margin.”
“The people have rejected the councillors who failed to fulfil the aspirations of the people of their wards. They have also given a befitting reply to the people who are constantly criticising me, saying that I have not done any appreciable development of Mapusa. Regarding my son’s victory, I did not do any campaigning for him.”
