BJP ZP members in dark about South Goa ZP chief candidate

MARGAO

Kaun Banega South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chairperson? Suspense continues to grip the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its candidate for the vacant post of South Goa Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Chairperson, with elections scheduled to be held on August 4.

Although the election process begins this Friday with the filing of nomination papers, BJP ZP members remain in the dark about who will be fielded as the party’s nominee for the prestigious post. A  BJP ZP member told The Goan that the party is likely to reveal its candidate around 9:30 am on Friday, during a meeting of South Goa ZP members at the party’s city office.

The Goan understands that the BJP top leadership has convened a meeting of the party South Goa ZP members at the BJP office in the city here on Friday morning at 9.30 am. “Till now, we have no idea who will be the BJP candidate for the coveted seat. We are waiting for the party leadership to zero in on the candidate. After the candidate is unveiled by the party leadership, the candidate along with other members will head to the Zilla Panchayat office to file the nomination papers”, the party leader said.

The BJP leader added: “Last time too, the BJP leadership had decided on the candidate before communicating the same to the ZP members at the party office. We expect the party leadership to follow the same procedure”.

In the 25-member South Goa ZIlla Panchayat, the BJP has a clear majority as evident by the fact that the party has been ruling the district panchayat body for the last four years and half. In fact, at the last election to the ZP Chairperson’s post held last year, the opposition did not field a candidate, giving unopposed victory to BJP nominee Sanjana Velip.

It’s not clear whether the Congress in coordination with other non-BJP parties and groups will field a candidate for the vacant post of South Goa ZP or give a walk over for the ruling party.