Team Herald
PANJIM: The fresh BJP-backed panel for the Corporation of City Panaji (CCP) elections, in new turn of events, following the delimitation and reservations of wards, might have a face-off with otherwise party loyals. For the March 20 elections many party members have decided to contest either on other panels or as independents irrespective of delimitation of wards.
At least five former corporators have already come together and joined the Panjim citizens’ forum, which is fielding candidates for all 30 seats of CCP.
Former CCP Mayor Surendra Furtado, his wife outgoing corporator Ruth Furtado and former corporators Nelson Cabral and Suresh Chopdekar will be the prominent candidates to be supported by the citizens’ forum named “We Ponjkekars”.
Former Mayor and longest serving corporator Surendra Furtado is still in search of a safe ward while, Ruth Surendra is contesting from ward 9 (reserved for women candidates)
When contacted, BJP national executive member Suresh Chopdekar confirmed that he will contest the CCP elections from ward 28. He argued that since CCP elections are not fought on party lines there is no question of indulging in any dissidence or anti-party activities. He will file his nomination papers on Tuesday.
Outgoing corporator Rupesh Halarnkar is also likely to contest either from ward 28 or 29 as a part of earlier ward has now been included in ward 28. “By Monday I will decide my ward to contest the elections,” he said.
Outgoing corporator Menino da Cruz has decided to support four candidates even as he has announced that he will not recontest the elections. Cruz has taken responsibility of four wards 18, 19, 20 and 21. There will be new faces in three wards while, a former councillor may be fielded in one of wards, he told Herald.
Two-time corporator, Nelson Cabral has also decided to contest the elections even as his name was missing from the electoral rolls.
When contacted, Cabral said that the Director of Municipal administration (DMA) has written to the Tiswadi mamlatdar asking him to maintain the roll as per the CCP limits. He said that has been paying taxes to the CCP and had also contested CCP elections. In 2016 also my name was included in the panchayat are and then I had to complain to get it rectified, he said.
RTI activist Sandeep Heble, co-convenor of “We Ponjekars” said that many aspirants have approached them to contest elections on their panel. Heble, son of former BJP-backed corporator Bharati Heble is contesting from ward 10. Two other BJP members Vishnu Naik, who lost the election by one vote and Santosh Kuncalienkar have also decided to throw their hat in the ring making the contest interesting.
Panjim MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate has nominated former corporator and former Panaji Block Congress president Prasad Amonkar for ward 10.
Voters from ward 6 (Tonca areas) are forcing BJP Mahila Morcha President and two-time corporator Sheetal Naik to contest the elections where the BJP-backed panel has fielded outgoing corporator Kishor Sastry. There are reports that Sheetal will take a decision within next two days.
Former corporator Ratnakar Fatarpekar has also decided to contest the ensuing elections. “I will either contest from ward 14 or 19,” he said. In 2016 Fatarpekar had contested from two wards and was defeated.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Malissa Simoes will contest on the “We Ponjekar” panel from ward 27. However, she was not available for her reaction.
“We Ponjekars” co-convenor Sandeep Heble said, “We have unofficially told our candidates to start their campaigning and not to wait for official announcement. Most of our candidates will file nominations on March 1 and 2.”
