PANJIM: Nine wards each of Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) are likely to witness straight and triangular battles even as scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on Friday, March 5 from 10 am to 1 pm.
Nine wards namely 2, 5, 6, 14, 15, 18, 20, 26 and 27 will witness triangular fights. However, a clear picture would emerge after withdrawal of nominations on Saturday, March 6.
On the last day of filing nominations, 36 candidates including nine former corporators filed their nominations. Nelson Cabral (ward no. 1), Bharati Heble (ward 4 and 6), Rahul Lotlikar (ward 8), Nagesh Karishetty (ward 11), Ratnakar Fatarpekar (ward 14), Pundalik Raut Desai (ward 17), Krishna alias Milind Shirodkar (ward 19), Rupesh Halarnkar (ward 29) and Vivina Nasnodkar (ward 30) were the former corporators who filed their nominations on the last day.
The main fight is between panels backed by Panjim BJP MLA Babush Monserrate and ‘We Ponjekars’, a panel supported by citizens of Panjim. Monserrate has fielded candidates for all 30 wards while, ‘We Ponjekars’ have fielded 26 candidates and have extended support to four other candidates namely Milind Shirodkar (ward 19), Rerkha Kande (ward 21), Sheela Pai Lotlikar (ward 5) and Acacio Luis Tavares (ward 29).
Ward 28 has eight candidates followed by seven in ward 30 and six in ward 22.
Straight fights will be between Monserrate’s son Rohit and Jose Martins, a hotelier in ward 3; between former Mayor Carolina Po and former corporator Bharati Heble in ward 4 and former corporators Ruth Furtado and Soraya Pinto Makhija in ward 9.
Elections are slated for March 20.
