MARGAO
With two days left for the filing of nominations for the coveted post of South Goa Chairperson and Vice-chairperson on January 7, the BJP leadership is expected to clear the air over the party’s candidature for the two posts on Wednesday.
Elections for the post of ZP Chairperson and Vice-chairperson will be held on January 8. The post of South Goa ZP Chairperson is reserved for a woman this time.
While a meeting of the BJP ZP members from South Goa has been called on Wednesday to forge a consensus amongst the members on the candidates for the two posts, sources in the ruling party informed that the core committee of the party will take the final call on the candidates.
BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade has been on record saying that the party would settle for the candidates for the post of Chairperson and Vice-chairperson based on a host of factors, including the 2022 Assembly elections, clearly saying that seniority will not be the sole criteria.
Sources in the ruling party informed that since the post of ZP Chairperson is reserved for a woman, all eyes are focused on the Sancoale ZP member, Anita Thorat, who was elected unopposed, and Sanvordem ZP member, Suvarna Tendulkar.
While Anita Thorat is a first-time ZP member, Suvarna Tendulkar has won the Sanvordem seat for the second time in a row.
The question that remains unanswered is whether Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho would have his way in getting the Sancoale ZP member Anita Thorat as the candidate for the post of Chairperson or the party will settle in favour of Suvarna Tendulkar as part of the strategy for the 2022 Assembly election.
In the 24-member South Goa Zilla Panchayat body, with one seat lying vacant after the election for the Navelim seat was countermanded following the death of Congress candidate Santarita Coelho, the BJP enjoys a clear majority with 14 members.
