MARGAO
A lone nomination paper for Ward No. 1 of the Cuncolim Municipal Council was rejected by the Returning Officer, leaving a total of 67 candidates in the fray for the 14-member civic body after scrutiny.
Incidentally, both the ruling BJP headed by Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias and Congress leader Yuri Alemao are yet to officially declare their list of candidates, even though the two camps have fielded their candidates individually. Indications are that the two camps may officially unveil their panel after the date of withdrawal of candidates.
Saturday is the day for withdrawal of candidates.
Sources told The Goan that the Returning Officer, John Fernandes rejected the nomination paper of one Shravani Kambli on grounds that the candidate had attached the OBC caste certificate issued by the authorities at Sawantwadi.
Meanwhile, a total of 67 candidates are left in the fray for the 14-member CMC, with Ward No. 2 and 9 having the highest numbers of candidate, 10 candidates each.
Ward No. 3, which is a ward reserved for women has seven candidates in the fray, followed by Ward No. 5, which has around six candidates. Ward No. 12 has five candidates.
Prominent candidates in the fray includes Videsh Desai, brother-in-law of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, a couple of former chairpersons and sitting councillors.
