VASCO
The fate of 125 candidates in the port town will be decided by voters who will exercise their franchise in 25 different wards of the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) on Friday.
The highest number of candidates are in Wards 12 (11) and Ward 17 (10), while a number of panels are being fielded by parties and prominent politicians.
There will be a straight fight between BJP-backed outgoing councillor Murari Bandekar annd Congress-backed outgoing councillor Shraddha Amonkar (wife of GPCC Vice President Sanaklp Amonkar) (Ward 8), Congress-backed candidate Yogita Parsekar and BJP-backed Tanuja Sawant (Ward 9), while Shami Salkar (wife of three-time councillor Krishna Daji Salkar) will battle against BJP-backed candidate Shalaka Kambli.
In Ward 12, two outgoing councillors, Vasco BJP Block President Deepak Naik and Congress leader and three-time councillor Saifullah Khan will be pitted against other candidates, who are fresh faces.
Daji Salkar, outgoing MMC chairperson Nandadeep Raut, GPCC Vice President Sankalp Amonkar and former minster Jose Philip Dsouza have fielded their wives as candidates and will bank on their spouses to retain power in the council.
The MMC elections in Mormugao constituency are also being seen as a fight between the panels fielded by the BJP and Congress, while in Vasco constituency, panels have been floated by Vasco BJP MLA Carlos Almeida, Daji Salkar and Jose Philip D’Souza.
In Dabolim constituency, the main fight is between panels backed by Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho and other candidates, some of who are supported by the Congress and NCP.
68,000 to vote at 77
booths: Dy Collector
18 booths declared sensitive
VASCO: Elections officials have made all arrangements to conduct elections in the port town, while police teams have been stationed at the polling booths to ensure peaceful elections on Friday.
Mormugao Dy Collector Sachin Desai said the state administration was all geared up to conduct elections for 25 wards of the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC).
“There are 68,000 voters and 77 polling booths across Vasco, Mormugao and parts of Dabolim Constituency. Besides, 18 polling booths had been declared sensitive and additional police force had been deployed at these booths,” said Desai.
"Every polling booth will have one team of police and we will despatch 77 teams to all the booths. As far as counting is concerned, rallies will not permitted and we will take action on violators.”
“As per rules, only the counting agent will be allowed at the venue and the counting area will be sealed for everyone else. We have around 200 Covid patients who may cast their votes and we will take precautions. We have already sent PPE kits to BLOs who will provide these kits to Covid positive voters and we will also keep some reserve kits at polling stations," said Desai.
