Civic polls: BJP panel candidates file nominations

PANJIM, FEB 16 
Bharatiya Janata Party has declared five of its remaining candidates for the civic polls, even as some of them filed their nominations before the Returning Officer on Tuesday.   
With the declaration of the five candidates – Mahesh Chandekar (ward 21), Suraj Kande (ward 20), Pratima Hoble (ward 29), Rupesh Halankar (ward 30) and Ratnakar Fatarpekar (ward 18) – the BJP panel stands complete.
Today, among those who filed their nominations, was former Mayor Ashok Naik (ward 14), who is heading the BJP panel. This ward is represented by current deputy mayor Yatin Parekh. The third candidate here is Prasad Surlekar, who is contesting as an independent. 
The BJP has not yet made its poll strategy known. However, former mayor Naik said they will back Cunha Oscar, who filed his nomination today from ward 26. “He is a nice person; we support his candidature,” he stated.
Natty Po (ward 1) filed her nomination from ward 1. Ward 2 will make an interesting fight where two brothers are contesting against each other. Nelson Cabral has filed his nomination   from this ward as the BJP panel candidate, while his brother Nazareth Cabral is contesting on the panel headed by Taleigao MLA Babush Monserrate.
Today, sitting corporators Surendra Furtado and Ruth Furtado filed their nominations from ward 10 and ward 9, respectively. 
While Surendra is elected from ward 9, Ruth won from ward 10 in the last civic polls. Since ward 10 has been reserved for women the couple has interchanged the wards.