GUILHERME ALMEIDA
MARGAO: Zilla Panchayats may not enjoy the powers and rights mandated under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. Successive governments may have paid only lip service in arming the district panchayat bodies with powers and rights under the Constitution. All these factors – which in the past had prompted many a member to demand scrapping of the Zilla Panchayats – may not come in the way of most of the current members of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat from throwing their hats in the ring in the coming ZP poll scheduled around March.
Inquiries by Herald have revealed that barring one, almost all the sitting ZP members from Salcete – the biggest block, having 10 of the 20 members, are bracing up to re-contest the election. In fact, barring the lone member representing Curtorim seat, Veena Lourenco, eight of the sitting members from the taluka have confirmed plans to seek re-election. While ZP member representing Guirdolim seat, Seema Dias will not contest the poll this time around. She will pave the way for husband and former ZP Chairperson Clafacio, who has finalised plans to make a comeback to the Zilla Panchayat once again.
Leading the pack of South Goa Zilla Panchayat members from Salcete who are expected to seek re-election is ZP Chairperson and three-time member representing Colva, Nelly Rodrigues. “Yes, I have decided to seek re-election from Colva once again. The ZP gives a platform to work towards the betterment of the society. No doubt, the ZP could not receive the powers envisaged under the 73rd Amendment, but we have managed to get substantial funds for the district panchayat body this time. This has helped us to take up many development works in our constituencies”, Rodrigues said, while asserting that the fight for the powers and rights under the 73rd Amendment will continue.
Another senior ZP member, seeking re-election is former Chairperson and two-time ZP member representing Benaulim, Maria Rebello. “For me, the Zilla Panchayat offers a platform to continue my social work and serve the society. During my last tenures, I have taken up a host of development projects in Benaulim,” Rebello stated.
Two-time Raia ZP member Domnick Gauncar has confirmed his decision to once again throw his hat in the ring. He has not ruled out the possibility of fielding his wife if Raia is reserved for women in the coming poll. Similarly, Nuvem ZP member Wilfred D’Sa is bracing up to once again take a shot at the coming poll. In the event Nuvem is reserved for women, wife and Nuvem deputy Sarpanch Freda D’Sa may throw her hat in the election ring, sources said.
Contrary to reports that her husband and former ZP Chairperson Joe Dias will fight the coming polls from Chinchinim seat, sitting member Sabrina Dias has confirmed that she would re-contest from Chinchinim, held by the husband-wife duo since the first ZP election held in 2000.
Both the ZP members representing Navelim constituencies – Cipru Cardozo and Maria Miranda – have confirmed plans to seek re-election. Cardozo told Herald that though he was initially not in favour of seeking re-election, he has finally decided to contest the coming poll.
Velim ZP member Anthony Rodrigues who will be seeking re-election has defended his decision saying, “Though the Zilla Panchayats do not enjoy powers, we could do a lot of work in our constituencies. Under Nelly, we also launched a host of welfare schemes for the benefit of the people”.
