MARGAO
Candidates and their political godfathers are keeping their fingers crossed as the fate of the 98 candidates will be decided on Monday when the ballots are taken up for counting.
Given that the Returning Officer Jyoti Kumari has decided to take up the counting from ward 1, the fate of the candidates fielded by Goa Forward-backed Fatorda Forward, BJP-backed Vibrant Margao, besides candidates fielded by the Fatorda Congress and the candidates contesting on the Citizen’s Choice panel will be known by afternoon.
By noon, both Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai and his challenger, former two-time BJP MLA Damu Naik, will know their fate as well as the fate of their candidates contesting in all the 11 Municipal wards falling in Fatorda constituency.
The fate of the candidates fielded by Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat backed Model Margao and BJP-backed Vibrant Margao will be known from noon onwards as the 11 wards falling in Margao constituency will be taken up for counting from 12.30 pm onwards.
All the three major poll panels have exuded confidence of winning the election. Both Leader of Opposition and the Goa Forward Chief have pointed out that their candidates will win majority seats in the election, giving clear indications that the Margao Civic Alliance will once again rule the civic body.
Not to be left behind, Vibrant Margao Chairman Damu Naik said the people of Margao and Fatorda have voted for a change, as he exuded confidence that the Lotus will bloom in the city again after a decade and a half.
