CANACONA
Former Goa Cricket Association (GCA) president Chetan Manju Desai, brother of GCA president Mahesh Desai, celebrated his birthday at his Miramar residence on Sunday, where supporters and well-wishers visited him.
Desai, Chairman of Shri Mallikarjun and Chetan Manju College at Delem, Canacona, was visited by people from Khotigao, Gaondongrim, Shristhal, Agonda and Canacona municipal areas.
Desai had earlier explored the possibility of contesting the previous Assembly elections on a Congress ticket but later decided not to enter the race. With preparations underway for the next Assembly elections, Desai has started engaging with Congress workers in Canacona. He has attended Congress organisational meetings held in the constituency and is expected to attend the Canacona Block Congress Committee’s ‘Assumption of Charge’ ceremony of the newly appointed block president at Shristhal Panchayat Hall on Monday evening.
Desai is said to have support among several former municipal councillors who are expected to contest the upcoming municipal elections in Canacona. He is also believed to have the backing of elected representatives from the six village panchayats in the constituency — Agonda, Shristhal, Gaondongrim, Khotigao, Poinguinim and Loliem-Polem.
With no other Congress aspirant emerging so far, Desai is considered a contender for the party ticket in Canacona. However, if Congress and Goa Forward Party enter into an alliance, the ticket decision could see competition from former Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes, who recently joined GFP and is also expected to seek the party ticket.
