MAPUSA
An ex-chairperson, two former vice-chairpersons and the kin of three former chairpersons were among the 35 nominations that were received on Wednesday, taking the total nominations to 94 for elections to Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC).
Thursday (April 8) is the last day of filing nominations.
Former chairperson Rupa Bhakta has filed her nomination from Ward 19 (general) while former vice-chairpersons Marlene De’Souza and Vijeyta Naik filed their nominations from Ward 8 (general) and Ward 15 (general), respectively.
Bhakta, who is expected to be the candidate from the BJP panel, will cross-swords with a seasoned politician, Sudhir Kandolkar, who has been getting elected from Ward 19 for over five terms, including one term when his wife was elected from the ward reserved for women.
Former vice chairperson, Marlene De’Souza, who is being elected from her ward for the last three terms, expressed confidence in getting re-elected.
Former vice chairperson Vijeyta Naik was first elected as a councillor in 2010 but failed to get re-elected in 2015.
Kayle Braganza, sister of former chairperson Ryan Braganza, Manisha Kavlekar wife of ex-chairperson Rohan Kavlekar and Shashank Narvekar son of former chairperson Subhash Narvekar filed their nominations from Ward 9 (women), Ward 18 (women) and Ward 5 (general), respectively.
Barbara Carasco, the wife of ex-councillor Martin Carrasco, has filed her nomination from Ward 3, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribe (women) while Vishwas Salgaonkar husband of ex-councillor Vibha Salgaonkar has filed his nomination from Ward 16 (general).
Viraj Phadke, son of former councillor, Balu Phadke has also filed his nomination from Ward 16 (general).
Former councillor Chandrashekar Benkar has filed his nomination from Ward 2 (general).
