PONDA: With the frequently changing political equations the Congress, BJP and MGP are trying hard to win maximum number of wards in Ponda Municipal elections and form the council.
It is apparent to observers that the MGP appears more desperate compared to the Congress and the BJP to re-establish its base in Ponda constituency as it currently has neither an MLA nor power in the municipality.
Congress MLA Ravi Naik is trying his best to have a hold over PMC by winning a majority of wards. Currently, he has just one supporter representing in the 14-member council.
Naik has become more active and has also formed his panel under banner Ponda Pragtik Vikas Manch (PPVM). Congress has ruled PMC several terms in the past, but was able to win only one seat in 2013 civic poll after Naik lost the Ponda assembly seat in 2012 to MGP–BJP alliance MLA Lavoo Mamlatdar.
However, the situation has changed now and the Congress MLA wants to win back PMC to strengthen his base and to continue the development work unobstructed. Besides, this time there is no alliance between the MGP and BJP. Naik hopes that the triangular contest is advantageous for the Congress to win majority of the wards and form the council.
As for BJP, it is currently ruling the Council led by Chairperson Radhika Naik with nine councillors of its won and support of two independents. The ruling councillors have declared their desire to re-contest the civic polls, with the addition of one ward after delimitation from earlier fourteen.
The chairperson and BJP Ponda block chief Vishwanath Dalvi are also on the panel supported by BJP, under the banner Ponda Citizens Committee.
BJP is trying to retain power in the council to strengthen its base in Ponda constituency, as like Congress and MGP, it has not been able to win the Ponda assembly seat till today.
In 2017 assembly elections, when BJP did not form an alliance with MGP, its candidate Sunil Desai, who is also a sitting councillor, finished second in Ponda constituency, with Congress MLA Naik winning the seat. Former MGP MLA Mamledar finished third.
Thus under these circumstances Desai is planning strategies and trying hard to win the council, so that it would help him contest the next Assembly elections.
As compared to the BJP and the Congress, MGP has launched an aggressive election campaign with Party President Deepak Dhavalikar conducting a strong membership drive to strengthen the party. The membership drive is being viewed by the political observers as a preparation for next Assembly elections.
MGP received a major setback in 2017 Assembly election when it lost Priol and Ponda constituencies, where the party was considered strongest in Goa.
Five MGP councillors are in the opposition in PMC. Curti-Khandepar panchayat is also ruled by BJP supporters, where MGP members are in opposition.
After Mamledar lost to Ravi Naik and Party President Deepak Dhavalikar was defeat in Priol by Govind Gaude in 2017 Assembly elections, MGP has fallen silent for the past one year. However, it is in the process of rebuilding. Recently it also gave entry to Ketan Bhatikar, who had contested Assembly election from Panjim constituency.
MGP has now decided to contest the civic polls under its new leader Bhatikar.
