TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: With major political players staying away from the March 18 Zilla Panchayat polls, the Independents seem to be making the most of the situation in Salcete where as many as nine seats are at stake.
It appears that the ensuing election is heading towards an “Independent” versus GVP-BJP battle with the known political players from the taluka – the Congress and the UGDP abstaining from the election.
So far, the two returning officers for Salcete constituencies – Surendra Naik and Ajit Panchwadkar – have received only five nomination papers of those contesting under party banner. While four of these candidates are of Goa Vikas Party, the lone nomination has come from the BJP. These figures are considered negligible given that around 31 Independents have so far filed their nomination papers and the figure is set to go up on the last date on Saturday.
On the other hand, the number of nomination papers on party banner may at the most go up to a total seven given the seat sharing understanding between the GVP
and the BJP.
Incidentally, while the Congress has stayed away from the polls, party workers are on the job to evolve a consensus amongst the candidates to take on the candidates affiliated to the ruling parties and Independents. Take the case of Velim constituency. Sources in the know said the party leaders tried to hammer out a compromise between sitting ZP member Anthony Rodrigues and another Independent, who is expected to file her nomination paper on Saturday, in a bid to field a common
candidate against the candidate fielded by local MLA Benjamin D’Silva.
