TEAM HERALD
CORTALIM: Elections to the Sancoale ZP polls, apart from being crucial for the contesting candidates, will also provide a roadmap for the future plans of those who would be eyeing the Cortalim Assembly seat.
The Sancoale ZP constituency which consists of two villages of Sancoale and Chicalim belong to Cortalim and Dabolim seat respectively.
Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho has already thrown his weight behind Sancoale panch Mariano Rodrigues, will have to ensure that he (Rodrigues) not only wins but also gets a lead in his constituency of Chicalim.
While four of the five contestants hail from Sancoale, only one candidate – Francisco Nunes alias Shikit, is a long-serving Chicalim panch who also had a stint as sarpanch and deputy sarpanch of Chicalim.
“My chances of winning are very strong. I have the backing of Chicalim panchayat. Five panchas including sarpanch and deputy are backing me,” Nunes told Herald.
For Rodrigues however the advantage lies in his popularity in Zuari Nagar. Furthermore, the disgruntled BJP voters and Cortalim MLA’s Alina supporters are unhappy over giving the Sancoale seat to the MGP. He also has the backing of Godinho. Sitting candidate Aparna Naik, who is contesting on the MGP ticket, will have to depend on her popularity and her performance during her tenure.
Former Cortalim Block BJP president Tulshidas Naik is also in the fray. Naik says his 15 years of social service will play a crucial role in the elections.
Another candidate Nitesh Sawant who is a new face is unlikely to make much impact.
