Monserrate and Parrikar prepare rival panels for polls
PANAJI
With the delimitation process complete and the boundaries of all 30 wards of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) finalised in a notification issued by the Urban Development Department, political activity in the capital has intensified.
Parties and aspirants are now assessing demographics ward by ward to finalise candidates and prepare for the civic polls expected to be held in mid-March.
Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, who represents Panaji, is said to have already finalised his panel of candidates. His team, backed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is expected to launch its campaign soon.
For Monserrate, the stakes are high. He has long held sway over Panaji and Taleigao, which together form the CCP’s jurisdiction. He himself has been representing the Panaji assembly seat since the 2019 death of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, and his wife Jennifer is representing Taleigao for a third consecutive term. Their son, Rohit, has been serving as the CCP mayor since the last election in 2021.
Attempting to challenge Monserrate’s dominance is the late Parrikar's son, Utpal. On Wednesday, he announced that he is working to create a panel of like-minded individuals to contest the CCP polls.
He has reportedly held back-channel talks with the Opposition Congress and is positioning himself as a formidable rival to the BJP-backed panel. “Anyone from any party or local residents are welcome to join my panel to bring change in Panaji,” Parrikar said.
The delimitation has redrawn ward boundaries, altering voter compositions and forcing political players to recalibrate strategies. Leaders are studying community profiles, residential clusters, and voter equations to maximise their chances, and the CCP elections are expected to be fiercely contested and closely watched.
Observers note that the contest between Monserrate and Parrikar could reshape political equations. While Monserrate relies on his established network and experience in CCP politics, Parrikar junior is banking on his father’s legacy and a promise of change.
The battle for control of the CCP is set to be one of the most high-profile civic contests in recent years, with both camps preparing for a spirited campaign.
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AAP not to contest on party lines
PANAJI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State president Valmiki Naik said on Wednesday that the party will not approach the upcoming civic elections in the State on the party banner and will instead support individual party leaders and workers who opt to contest.
