MARGAO
The Congress leadership, including the Party MLAs, will in most likelihood field candidates under the party banner in the by-poll for the Nuvem and Curtorim Zilla Panchayat constituencies, even as Goa Forward party has decided against throwing its hat in the ring, while the United Goans Democratic Party is toying with the idea of contesting the by-poll on the party banner.
On the other hand, the BJP's stand in contesting the election for the two seats remains unclear for the moment, with the party leadership saying the air will be cleared on Sunday. Tuesday is the last date for filing of nomination papers for the Curtorim and Nuvem seats, by-poll for which have been necessitated after the resignation of ZP members Clafacio Dias and Wilfred D'Sa following their election to the Legislative Assembly.
While the Congress MLAs of Nuvem Wilfred D'Sa, besides Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco and Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias said the Congress will contest the by-poll on the party banner, GPCC Chief Shantaram Naik said there's a strong consensus amongst the CLP and GPCC members that the party should field candidates in all the four seats going for the by-poll on August 20. "Not just Curtorim and Nuvem, I firmly believe that the Congress should field candidates in all the four seats on the party banner," Naik said, adding "I have been demanding for long that the Congress should fight local elections on the party banner and I am happy that a consensus has emerged that the party should field official candidates for the ZP by-poll."
Incidentally, the Goa Forward party leadership has decided not to throw its hat in the Zilla Panchayat by-poll for Nuvem and Curtorim. Goa Forward party supremo Vijai Sardesai told The Goan on Saturday that the party has decided against contesting the by-poll for the Nuvem and Curtorim seats. "A couple of candidates from Curtorim did come and meet me either seeking the party's support or expressing their willingness to contest on the party symbol. We have decided against contesting the by-poll," Vijai asserted.
Incidentally, former Minister, Mickky Pacheco, who is seeking his return to the regional United Goans Democratic Party, told The Goan that moves are on to field candidates in both Nuvem and Curtorim on the UGDP banner. "I am right now out of station and expected to return back on late Sunday. I will immediately meet UGDP leaders, Adv Anacleto Viegas and Adv Radharao Gracias after my return and finalise candidates for both the seats," Mickky told The Goan.
Incidentally, the BJP leadership is yet to come out clear on the question of contesting the by-poll for the Nuvem and Curtorim seats. BJP leader and Rumdamol ZP member Ulhas Tuemkar said that neither any candidate has been finalised by the party leadership nor the party has taken a call on contesting the by-poll on the party banner.
BJP Curtorim Assembly candidate, Arthur D'Silva has also feigned ignorance of any plan by the party to contest the by-poll for the Curtorim ZP seat.
Sources in the BJP, however, said that a decision will be taken on the Zilla Panchayat by-poll for Curtorim and Nuvem seats by Sunday evening.
Tuesday is the last date for filing of nomination papers for the two seats. Returning Officer, Deputy Collector Uday Prabhudesai told The Goan that his office has received no nomination papers for the two seats till date.
