MARGAO
The battle lines are finally drawn for the 25-member Margao Municipal Council “ straight fights in at least seven wards, triangular contests in five wards and multi-cornered battles in the remaining wards of the 25-member Margao Municipal Council going to the polls on March 21.
The highest number of candidates are in the fray in Ward No. 9, around seven candidates to be precise.
While the BJP has fielded candidates in all the 25 Margao Municipal wards under the banner of Vibrant Margao, Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat has fielded 11 candidates under Model Margao. Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai has fielded candidates in all the 11 wards falling in Fatorda area of the civic body, besides fielding outgoing Margao Municipal Chairperson Pooja Naik in Ward No. 23 falling in the Curtorim constituency.
The wards which will witness straight fights, including Ward Nos. 2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, and 22.
In Ward No. 17, BJP leader Rupesh Mahatme will have to brace up for a battle with Deepak Gadekar, while former chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar and former Minister late Babu Naik’s grandson Prabhav will battle it out in Ward No. 22.
The reserved (OBC) Ward No. 18 will also witness a straight fight between outgoing councillor Avinash Shirodkar and Congress-turned-BJP Parag Raikar.
Around five wards will witness triangular contests, while the remaining will see multi-cornered contests.
While the BJP has unveiled its candidates under the banner of Vibrant Margao, both Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat and Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai are yet to officially declare their set of candidates.
While the duo have kicked off their campaign in their respective areas in Margao and Fatorda, sources said the duo are expected to officially name their panels after the Supreme Court verdict in the ward reservation case.
The BJP, which has not ruled the Margao Municipal Council for the last decade and half, are making a determined bid to wrest the Council from the control of the Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai duo.
