Navelim ZP poll could give sleepless nights to Churchill

Navelim ZP poll could give sleepless nights to Churchill
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, APRIL 12
The outcome of the polls may not have any bearing on the South Goa Zilla Panchayat with the ruling group sitting pretty with a thumping majority.
But, bye-polls to the Navelim Zilla Panchayat constituency scheduled on May 9 certainly means much more for local MLA and PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao as the process of filing of nomination process gets underway before the Returning Officer from tomorrow.
Before elections for the Navelim seat were countermanded following the death of a candidate, the Churchill camp was virtually hit by a vertical divide with his two main supporters – Bishuth Themudo and Edwin (Cipru) Cardozo – jumping the fray.
In fact, the divide was not confined to the two candidates alone, but was clearly visible in the ruling Navelim Panchayat and down to the supporters of the PWD Minister. For instance, Navelim sarpanch Paul Pereira had come out strongly in support of Cipru, while the deputy Sapranch Ana Carneiro rallied behind his brother Bishuth as expected. With Alemao’s efforts to get one of the contenders withdraw from the fray coming a cropper, even the Pancha members were a divided lot, besides other supporters of the Navelim MLA.
And, with the State Election Commission announcing the bye-poll for the Navelim seat, all eyes are focused on the Alemao camp, with questions being raised whether the PWD Minister would prevent infightings amongst his supporters in the run-up for the elections.
Says Alemao: “I will again sit with the two candidates and try to work out a consensus between them and ensure that one of them withdraws from the fray”.
Alemao, who was due to leave for the National Capital in connection with the NH-4 four-lane highway, said that the matter would be resolved after his return to the state.
When contacted, Bishuth Themudo said he would take a decision after consulting his supporters. “There is still time to decide whether to contest or not”, said Themudo, a former ZP member from Navelim.
On the other hand, supporters of Cipru maintained that he would certainly contest the bye-polls after having kicked off his campaign with much fanfare before the polls were countermanded.
Election officials informed that both Bishuth and Cipru need not file fresh nomination papers if they intend to contest the by-polls since they had earlier filed their papers.
Sources do not rule out the possibility of other candidates jumping the fray in the bye-polls. The Navelim ZP constituency comprises of the villages of Navelim, Telaulim and Sirlim-Dramapur. The seat was earlier held by Bishuth Themudo, followed by Filomena Coutinho.