MAPUSA
Stating that the BJP has done exceptionally well in the first phase of the civic elections, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza said his focus will be to select winnable candidates to keep the winning momentum in Mapusa and other four municipalities that are scheduled to go to polls next month.
He also expected at least 55 percent of the candidates to be replaced in the new panel compared to the last one.
“The main agenda is to select candidates that are winnable. That is the instruction that has trickled down to the last man in the party. We have won in all the municipalities but one that went for election last week. So we are trying to ensure that we win in all the remaining five civic bodies,” D’Souza said.
The Mapusa MLA was interacting with the journalists after inaugurating a series of works in various wards of the town.
Continuing, D’Souza said he was lucky to get a chance to work on his panel for the second time and would ensure that he gets the best candidates.
“The candidate who is interested to contest has to be acceptable in the entire ward and based on that we will make the choice. I also got to learn….Very rare you get a chance to work second time on your panel,” he said.
He said over 50 percent of the candidates that were selected in the last panel will make way for new ones because of the new reservation process.
“At least 55 per cent of the candidate will change from the last panel,” he said.
He disclosed that most of the aspirants have come to terms with the new reservation process and have agreed to support the new candidate selected by the party.
The Mapusa MLA admitted that adjusting the experienced former councilors, which also includes some ex-chairpersons, was turning out to be a tough task.
He said nobody expected the ward reservation to be such but sometimes you have to be ready for the worse and respect the Supreme Court decision.
“If the ex-councilor cannot be accommodated then he should come to terms and respect the decision and have to wait till the next term,” D’Souza opined.
He said the party will not declare the chairperson candidate for the civic polls and decide on the choice after the election.
He also did not agree with the idea that the new council will be an inexperienced lot, as some ex-councilors are expected to be re-elected.
