A new breed of politicians is raring to chart a fresh course in their political careers in a bid to storm the forts of established players in the 2017 Assembly election.
Considered as grassroots leaders in their own right since they also represent a significant percentage of the electorate in the district panchayat body, as many as five out of the eight South Goa Zilla Panchayat members from Salcete have firmly decided to throw their hat in the electoral ring and challenge the sitting MLAs in their bastions.
Political parties are mushrooming on the eve of the elections, and Zilla Panchayat members from politically significant Salcete have become much sought after probable candidates, and are being wooed by political outfits to contest the election on their respective banners.
Be it Maria Rebello (Benaulim), Clafacio Dias (Cuncolim), Wilfred D’Sa (Nuvem), Nelly Rodrigues (Cortalim) and Cipru Cardozo (Navelim), all appear to have confirmed and firmed up their plans for the coming election. Take note, all these five probable candidates are not first-time Zilla members, but have been in active politics for quite some time, with Nelly Rodrigues topping the list as the senior member, having made it to the South Goa Zilla panchayat on as many as four occasions since the inception of the panchayat body in the year 2000.
Maria Rebello closely follows suit by holding the distinction of representing Benaulim for three terms. On the other hand, Clafacio Dias and his wife have been in Zilla Panchayat politics for over a decade now, while Nuvem ZP member Wilfred D’Sa and his Navelim counterpart Cipru Cardozo have both been two-time ZP members. In fact, Nelly, Maria and Clafacio hold the distinction of having headed the South Goa Zilla panchayat body as chairperson.
Amongst the lot, only Nelly Rodrigues had tested the political waters when she had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 Assembly election against late Matanhy Saldanha.
ALL GEARED UP FOR BIG STAGE
Maria Rebello: She is engaged in a bitter battle for the Congress ticket for the Benaulim seat. She has made up her mind to take on friend turned foe and former PWD minister Churchill Alemao in the coming election. Congress ticket or not, Maria appears firmly set to contest the election from Benaulim.
Clafacio Dias: Also finds himself in a similar situation. Locked in a battle for the Congress ticket, Clafacio is weighing various options, including the option to contest the election as an independent against friend-turned-foe and former Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao.
Wilfred D’Sa: is waiting for the Congress leadership to take a call on the Congress ticket for the Nuvem seat. Whatever the Congress party's decision, the Nuvem ZP member says that he would be in the fray in the coming election come what may.
Cipru Cardozo: The two-time Navelim ZP member is closely associated with the nascent Goa Forward Party and may turn out to be the party's candidate for the Navelim seat in the eventuality that there is no alliance between the Congress and GFP.
Nelly Rodrigues: The Colva ZP member is again eyeing the Cortalim seat, this time on the NCP banner, with the avowed plan to cross swords against RDA Minister, Alina Saldanha.
QUOTE UNQUOTE
Says political commentator, Adv Cleofato Coutinho: “Previously, the sarpanchas were considered influential and formidable candidates in any election. But now, their place has been taken over by the Zilla Panchayat members, given the simple fact that they now represent a wider area, in some cases 3-4 villages, as compared to the sarpanchas. In some instances, the ZP members are formidable candidates, capable enough to upset the applecart of any sitting MLA. That explains why ZP members are wooed by the political parties”.
