The National Party Congress, which for the first time decided to field a panel for the CCP elections, is facing major embarrassment as it is left with only 18 candidates in the 30-member council. It was humiliating for party leadership who was taken backseat by their former colleague and MLA Atanasio Monserrate by snatching away their three candidates.
Congress has not been able to get a hold over Panjim Assembly constituency for over two decades now, with the capital returning BJP’s Manohar Parrikar repeatedly. And given this background, to many, Congress now managing to get 18 candidates is also a big surprise.
Led by MLA Pandurang Madkaikar and former councilors Rudresh Chodankar Congress decided to enter the fray and announced the names of 21 candidates. However, to their bad luck, three of their candidates- Krishna Naik (Ward No 5), Ricky Fernandes (Ward No 10) and Gregory Bothelo (Ward No 19) withdraw from the fray extending support to Monserrate panel.
Congress, had in the very beginning faced the heat when one of their candidates from Ward No 17, Inez Fernandes, later backed out. She was to be fielded opposite BJP’s Babita Naik and Monserrate’s Pascoela Mascarenhas.
If that was not enough, former mayor and once a close aide of Monserrate, Tony Rodrigues, who backed out of the Monserrate panel and initially walked along with the party, later distanced himself from campaigning. The Congress has alleged that Tony has backed off following assurance from BJP that few of his properties would be included in the Taleigao ODP.
The party has introduced all new faces, except for former Mayor Carolina Po and NCP leader Avinash Bhosle, who was refused a ticket by Monserrate.
