CURCHOREM: Two former chiefs of Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) on Wednesday filed their nomination papers for the chairperson’s post. The election to the chairperson’s post will be held on Thursday.
According to sources Curchorem Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and former chairperson Vishwas Pandu Sawant and Balkrishna (Pinty) Uttam Sinai Hodarkar will contest for the hot seat.
Vishwas from Ghotmorad-Bansai ward got elected by a 209-vote margin while Balkrishna won in Bebquegal ward by a margin of 123 votes.
Rhucha Subhash Vasta from Khandiwada who got 515 votes is likely to be declared unopposed as vice chairperson as she is the only candidate to have filed the nomination.
“Since others councillors from our panel had shown interest, it was left to the party to decide and accordingly the party declared my name. Later I filed my nomination for the post but suddenly defying party’s selection and without listening our MLA, Hodarkar went ahead and filed his nomination,” Sawant claimed.
Hodarkar said he had requested the panel to give him one more chance to head the council as he wanted to complete the pending works which he had initiated during his tenure.
“I was elected unopposed and was chairperson for the last only 13 months at the end of the tenure of the last council and I could not work much and complete the projects initiated during my tenure due to COVID lockdown and therefore I urged them to support me which the party refused. After consulting my supporters I decided to file my nomination,” Hodarkar said.
When contacted Power Minister Nilesh Cabral said, “Everyone is independent to contest. Our panel has decided to support the candidature of Sawant but since Hodarkar is contesting let’s see who wins.”
Cabral hopped that whoever wins would understand and work for the betterment of the people.
At the special meeting on Thursday Ponda Deputy Collector Kedar Naik will administer the oath of office to the newly elected councillors followed by election to the post of chairperson and vice-chairperson respectively.
