VASCO
As one of the most populated municipalities in the State, a little over 68,000 voters will elect councillors in 25 wards of the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), which is spread across three constituencies of Vasco, Dabolim and Mormugao.
"There are 77 polling stations for the MMC elections. There will be two polling stations in Wards 1, 6, 7 and 8, three polling stations in Wards 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24 and 25, and four polling stations in Wards 12, 14, 16, 19, 22 and 23,” said a source.
The source said there are 68,089 voters (34,602 males and 33,487 females) in the 25 wards, with the most number of voters in Ward 16 (3,750) and least number of voters in Ward 8 (1,592).
Meanwhile, the initial enthusiasm among outgoing councillors and new aspirants in the upcoming polls to the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) on March 20 has been dampened by the recent ward reservations.
This appears to be the case as there has been no nomination filed for the civic polls since Thursday.
According to sources, many aspirant candidates and some outgoing councillors have hopes that the petitions against reservations, presently being heard in the high court, may bring some changes in the reservations.
While the was reservations had fuelled a war of words between BJP legislators, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida and Urban Development Minister Milind Naik, none of the candidates shortlisted by both BJP leaders have come forward to file their nominations.
There have been rumours in the port town that the civic polls could be further postponed to October considering a resentment against the reservations, the case being heard in the high court and the rising Covid cases.
While officers in charge at the Dy Collectors office are geared to accept nominations, no one has so far come forward to file their nominations.
Incidentally, most candidates have almost been shortlisted by the BJP and Congress for the MMC polls in Mormugao constituency, the picture is different in Vasco with the BJP ready with the candidates but no one from the Congress or NCP has made any announcement so far.
