Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: Few BJP supporters and some former Cuncolim councillors are blaming the local MLA and the saffron party for the municipal reservation released by the Department of Urban Development.
“It’s surprising to note that the BJP dominated ward number 6 Sanvorcoto and Ward number 8 Maddicoto are reserved for OBC and women respectively,” said a BJP supporter on condition of anonymity.
Ward 6 Sanvorcoto, which was represented earlier by former Vice Chairperson Dilip Dessai and former Chairperson Devendra Dessai, is kept reserved for OBC. “In last Municipal Elections same ward was reserved for OBC. Sanvorcoto ward is dominated by BJP voters and with maximum number of voters from Saraswat and Maratha community. How can the government reserve the same ward for ten years?” locals questioned.
Irked by the decision, local BJP voters blame top leaders for this mix-up and are alleging that this reservation has been made to help former chairperson and outgoing councilor Kiran Naik.
The same situation is also in Ward 8, Maddicoto, which is dominated by BJP voters. Maddicoto is like the ‘headquarters of Cuncolim BJP’ and was once represented by former MLA Rajan Naik. Maddicoto has maximum voters from Saraswat community and Catholic Chaddo Community. Very few voters are from OBC.
Most of the BJP supporters in Maddicoto are demanding to know how the government could reserve this ward for OBC.
The ST community is also reportedly not happy for the ward reserved for ST Women.
“Ward number one, which is new ward at Panzorconi, is created and kept reserve for OBC Women only to accommodate MLA Clafacio Dias close supporter Gorgina Gama,” said a local from the new ward.
Reservation of wards has affected the political aspirations of outgoing councillor Sashank Dessai. Veroda ward is reserved for women while Talwada ward which was represented by outgoing BJP Councillor and former international footballer Ashok Fadte is reserved for ST Women.
