TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: In contrast to last year’s high-octane battle for the Corporation of the City of Panaji mayor’s and deputy mayor’s post, this time it was a cakewalk for the sitting mayor Surendra Furtado and his young deputy Kabir Makhija Pinto since the opposition corporators have not put up any candidates.
Despite internal rumblings, the Atannasio Babush Monserrate-backed panel managed to quell dissensions within its own group and keep its flock safe from outside offers.
Furtado and Makhija turned out to be the only nominees for the mayor and the deputy mayor posts and will be declared elected unopposed, despite the politicking prior to the elections.
The elections are slated for Friday morning.
Sources say that the behind the scenes politicking all turned to naught and a last minute change of heart by hot contender corporator Rudresh Chodankar isolated other contender Yatin Parikh and ultimately nobody else filed their nominations.
Last year, Surendra Furtado and Bento Lorena of Monserrate’s panel were elected as mayor and deputy mayor with Furtado defeating Tony Rodrigues, and Lorena defeating Shubham Chodankar.
