A day after the ward reservation notification upset the applecart of key players in Margao Municipal Council politics, possibility of bringing kith and kin in the fray, swapping and shuffling of candidates and hunting for replacements is not being ruled out by the ruling and opposition.
As the ward reservations has virtually left many an aspirant out of the fray, the ruling BJP camp and the opposition Congress and Goa Forward are back to their drawing boards, to find replacements.
VIBRANT MARGAO
Severely hit, panel looking for potential winners
MARGAO: The BJP-backed Vibrant Margao, which was affected the most by the reservations notified by the Director of Municipal Administration, is bracing up to zero in on candidates in a number of wards.
Margao BJP president Rupesh Mahatme, who has been ruled out of the fray after his ward No 17, was reserved for OBC, said the party will field the right candidate, capable of winning the seat. “Though I am out of the fray, I will ensure that we find the right candidate to contest from Malbhat. We have enough candidates to represent the seat”, Mahatme added.
The BJP will have to find a right candidate in ward No 13, which has been reserved for women, ruling out the candidature of party general secretary and sitting Councilor Ketan Kurtarkar.
While Dy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar’s brother Rajendra has been ruled out of the election after ward No 14 was reserved for SC women, the Ajgaonkars have decided to field young Ronita Ajgaonkar. Daughter of Rajendra Ajgaonkar, Ronita is a physio-therapist by profession.
With ward No 5 being reserved for women, possibility of flamboyant former MMC Chairperson Arthur D’Silva contesting from his home ward, ward No 7 is not being ruled out in BJP circles.
Chairman of Vibrant Margao Damu Naik said the BJP has got its organization in both Margao and Fatorda, adding that the party will go to the people’s court on the strength of the organization and blessings of the people.
GOA FORWARD PARTY
Task on hand for Vijai: Where to accommodate Andrade?
MARGAO: Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai was scheduled to go into a huddle with party-backed candidates at Goemkar Ghor on late Wednesday to take a call on the party candidates for the ensuing elections. Sources in the party do not rule out the possibility of the party shuffling candidates in view of the fresh reservations. For instance, with ward No 4 being reserved for OBC, fielding outgoing MMC Chairperson Pooja Naik in the ward is not being ruled out.
Similarly, with ward No 5 being reserved for women, the party may field wife of SujayLotlikar in the ward.
The Goa Forward Chief, however, has a task on hand how and where to accommodate sitting Councilor Glen Andrade, whose ward No 10, considered the heritage ward, stands reserved for OBC. Sources say Andrade is willing to throw his hat in the neighbouring ward No 9 if the party decides to accommodate him in the ward.
CONGRESS
All eyes are on MMC Ward 18: Which card will Digambar play?
MARGAO: Leader of Opposition, Digambar Kamat was holed up in Panaji on Wednesday, and could not have an interaction with the party candidates and workers to decide on the candidates.
With Ward No 18 being de-reserved in general category, speculations are rife that Kamat’s son Yogiraj may make his political debut from the ward. Many, however, say that the Margao MLA will have to first work out a way for former MMC Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar, who had initially set his eyes on Ward no 18, but later decided to contest from Ward No 22 after the former was reserved for OBC.
It’s not known as yet whether Kamat will go for swapping of candidates in the Aquem area to accommodate Ganashyam Shirodkar.
The Congress camp is also expected to hunt for as many as two women candidates in ward No 13 and 14 (SC reserved) to take on the might of the ruling party. “We will meet in a day or two to decide and finalize our candidates for the polls. There’s still some time left to take a call on the candidates", Kamat added.
