Outgoing councillor Leo Rodrigues who won in Ward 25 along with former MMC chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar
VASCO
Former Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) chaiperson Kritesh Gaonkar managed to get his pal and outgoing councillor Leo Rodrigues elected in Ward 25, a stronghold of Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, by defeating Godinho’s candidate, Gracious Coutinho.
Rodrigues polled 543 votes and defeated Coutinho (483 votes) by a small margin of 60 votes in a close fight.
Former GSUDA vice chairperson Leo Rodrigues, who represented Ward 9 in Mormugao constituency, had jumped to Ward 25 in Dabolim constituency at the request of former MMC chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar after Ward 9 was reserved for SC women.
Gaonkar, who represented Ward 25, was left out of the race after Ward 25 was reserved for OBC and the adjoining Ward 24 was reserved for SC women.
An upset Gaonkar, who felt that the reservations were politically motivated to target him, then decided not to contest but vowed to get his pal Leo Rodrigues elected in Ward 25 as a way to retain his ward and display his show of strength in his ward.
Gaonkar has a good rapport with residents and promoted the candidature of his friend, Leo Rodrigues, in the ward.
Rodrigues was a new face in a new ward and in a different constituency but managed to win by beating Godinho’s candidate, Gracious Coutinho.
