TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: BJP-backed corporator Shubam Chodankar and Edward Jorge from the Atanasio Monserrate panel will be declared mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, on Friday, as they were the only nominees for the two posts. Filing of nominations ended at 4 pm Thursday, with no other nominations received for the top posts of the Corporation of the City of Panjim.
As there will be no need for an election, the official announcement will be made Friday.
Wednesday’s banner of a fledging revolt by members of the Monserrate panel on his decision to support a BJP-backed mayor turned out to be a damp squib as the Taleigao strongman and St Cruz MLA cracked the whip ensuring that all corporators fell in line.
Sources had indicated that at the earlier meeting held with his corporators, some of them had expressed their disquiet over Monserrate’s decision to support the BJP-led panel feeling that they should sit in the Opposition instead of making such a deal.
Monserrate who supported incumbent Mayor Surendra Furtado for the past two terms turned against him during the recent Panjim Assembly by polls, when Furtado threw his hat in the ring and ultimately claimed the Congress ticket.
Monserrate was expelled from the party for anti-party activities, after he worked against Furtado in the elections. Later he had made his intentions clear that his panel would support the BJP in the Mayoral contest.
