TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Eyebrows have been raised over the delimitation of Zilla Panchayat constituencies in Salcete, especially in areas represented by Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva and Cuncolim MLA Rajan Naik as the exercise has left many a strong aspirant, including sitting ZP members, out of the race.
The delimitation has also brought the number of ZP constituencies in Salcete from 10 to nine, with villages falling in Chinchinim constituency being merged in Benaulim and Velim constituencies.
Plans by Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado’s close aide George Barretto to test the political waters from Navelim were dashed as Navelim ZP constituency stands reserved for OBCs.
Sitting Navelim ZP member Cipru Cardozo, who had disclosed plans to re-contest the ensuing polls, is also out of the race after the seat was reserved for OBCs. The reservation has come as a big surprise for many in Navelim as the fisheries minister had all along maintained that he would support George for the Navelim seat.
In neighbouring Velim ZP constituency, the exercise has left many an aspirant in the cold, including sitting ZP member Anthony Rodrigues. The move has also scuttled plans by former ZP chairperson Joe Dias to make a comeback to the Zilla Panchayat. Similarly, young seaman Frank Viegas, who had covered much ground in a bid to make it to the Zilla Panchayat, is also out of the competition.
Sitting Velim ZP member Anthony Rodrigues said the decision to reserve the Velim seat for OBC woman is a clear ploy by the powers to be to keep him out of the race. “I have received dozens of calls from my supporters across Velim. They are very much disturbed over the decision. They have requested me to either field my wife or sister-in-law in the election”, Anthony said.
Questions are raised in Velim over the yardstick adopted by the panchayat authorities while reserving the seat for the third time in a row. While the Velim ZP seat was reserved for the OBC last time round, the constituency was reserved for women in the previous election. This time again, the constituency has been reserved for OBC women, raising many an eyebrow in political circles.
The delimitation exercise has also dashed hopes of former ZP Chairperson Clafacio Dias to make a comeback from Guirdolim as the constituency is reserved for women (ST). Guirdolim seat is presently held by his wife Seema and Clafacio had covered much ground in the constituency in his bid to make a comeback to the Zilla Panchayat. Clafacio has expressed surprised not only over the reservation of the Guirdolim seat for women ST, but over the inclusion of villages from Quepem taluka, Ambaulim and Balli into Guirdolim.
