PANJIM: The ruling panel in the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) on Wednesday unanimously approved and nominated Councillor Uday Madkaikar as their candidate for the mayor’s post.
The panel also said that final approval will be given by panel leader Atanasio Monserrate. Elections for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor are scheduled on March 14.
The decision was taken at a special meeting attended by 15 of the ruling panel councillors. However, current Mayor Surendra Furtado and his wife Ruth, also a councillor, were not invited for the meeting.
“Today we held a meeting with 15 councillors and Uday Madkaikar’s name was unanimously approved as the candidate for the mayoral post. However, final approval will be given by our panel leader Atanasio Monserrate in the next few days,” Councillor Rahul Lotlikar told Herald soon after the meeting ended.
Later, speaking the Herald, Monserrate said, “I am yet to decide. They have taken a decision at the meeting today. Give me time to think, I will announce my decision once the election dates are announced.”
Speaking further Lotlikar said, “The elections will be held on March 14 and the notification for the same will be out soon. Babush had told us to conduct the meeting and propose the name and then convey it to him and that is the reason he was not present for the meeting.”Asked why Surendra and Ruth Furtado had not been invited for the meeting, councillors present at the meeting refused to comment.
Madkaikar said, “Today my name was unanimously approved by our panel, but final decision lies with our leader and I am ready to take any responsibility as told to me by the leader.”
Monserrate had earlier confirmed that Asmita Kerkar had been finalised as candidate for the post of Deputy Mayor.
