VASCO
With the State Election Commission extending the date of filing nominations for Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) by two more days, there was a mad rush of candidates seeking to file their nominations.
As many as 64 candidates filed their nomination from different wards on Friday, taking the total to 67 candidates filing nominations to the MMC elections so far.
While there was a mad rush, a strong police force was present to avoid any law and order situation.
There was also a huge rush of people in groups affiliated to the Vasco, Mormugao and Dabolim blocks of the BJP and one group of supporters from Mormugao Congress.
Some outgoing councillors also had their own huge group of residents who came to support their candidates.
The filing of nominations went on till around 2 pm, because people who had entered the gates and submitted their forms before 1 pm were given tokens for submission of nomination.
Amongst the prominent candidates who filed their nominations on Friday were outgoing councillors Shashikant Parab ,Sarita Pallar (Ward 3), Damodar Kaskar (Ward 4), Sandesh Mesta (Ward 7), Murari Bandekar (Ward 8), Leo Rodrigues (Ward 9), Vasco BJP President and Former MMC chairperson Deepak Naik (Ward 12), Fredrick Henriques (Ward 19) and former MMC chairperson Kritesh Goankar (Ward 24).
Besides the outgoing councillors, others to file their nominations included Shraddha Amonkar (Ward 8), who is the wife of GPCC Vice President Sankalp Amonkar, former councillor Seby D’Souza (Ward 9), social worker Saira Kadri (Ward 10), Kalayarasi Swamy (Ward 10), who is the wife of outgoing councillor Dhanpal Swamy, Shami Salkar (Ward 13) who is the wife of Krishna Daji Salkar, Priya Raut, who is the wife of MMC Chairperson Nandadep Raut, and former councillor Fiola Rego (Ward 15), Girish Borker (Ward 16), who is the husband of outgoing councillor Rochana Borker, journalist Sudesh Bhosle and BJP State Executive Member Chandrakant Gawas (Ward 22) and social worker Kanchani Kinlekar (Ward 23).
Speaking to reporters, Mormugao Dy Collector Sachin Desai said that 64 nominations were received on Friday and there were three nominations filed previously, taking the total to 67 nominations for the MMC elections.
"We will be accepting nomination forms on Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm and those who arrive by 1 pm will be given tokens, but those arriving after 1 pm will not be allowed to submit nominations.”
“We have accepted forms today as per the new directives. Since there are two days to file nominations and we are expecting a large number of aspirants, we requisitioned a police force to reduce unnecessary crowd besides, avoiding any law and order situation," said Desai.
