MAPUSA
In bid to outwit each other in the ensuing civic polls, the BJP and the opposition have almost finalized the list of candidates for the council elections in Mapusa but none want to officially announce the names of the candidates
After the declaration of the new reservation process on the direction of the Supreme Court, candidates in many wards were expected to change even as the BJP and the opposition group had to go back to the drawing board to come out with a new list of names.
The new reservation plan has upset the applecart of the ruling BJP panel as many of their experienced candidates had to make way for novices in their wards.
The opposition, however, are with their tail ups as many of the old-timers who are formidable candidates in their respective wards have got a chance to contest in the election.
Former chairperson Michael Carrasco admitted that they (the opposition) were waiting for the BJP to come out with its panel list while the BJP was waiting for the opposition to declare its candidates.
“Actually, we have more candidates in every ward then the BJP. It’s very obvious that due to the High Court decision we have an edge and they (BJP) are on the back foot,” Carrasco opined.
Mapusa MLA, Joshua D’Souza made it very clear that the BJP will announce its panel only after the end of the nomination process.
“We are going to delay the announcement of our panel as part of strategy. We are aware the opposition is waiting for an opportunity to try and win over our rebel candidates. We will not allow that,” D’Souza said.
Earlier, the BJP under the banner of Mapusa Development Front had publicly announced all 20 candidates while the opposition-sponsored Mapusakarancho Ekvot had declared names of 16 candidates before the Supreme Court struck down the reservation process and the State Election Commission later cancelled the election process.
BJP decides to stick to its
earlier plan in Ward 20
MAPUSA: The BJP has managed to rein in its senior candidates from contesting in ward 20 of the Mapusa Municipal Council and decided to stick to its earlier candidate in the ward.
At least two senior BJP functionaries “ former chairperson Ryan Braganza and ex-councilor, Franky Carvalho “ were initially planning to contest from ward 20 (General) after their wards were reserved.
Carvalho was first to back out from the race and Braganza was nudged by the party seniors not to contest from the ward.
Braganza is expected to field his sister in ward 9 which has been reserved for women while Carvalho is either expected to contest or field another candidate in ward 7 which is reserved for OBC.
“We have decided to retain Deepak Mhadeshri as our candidate in ward 20,” a senior BJP functionary told The Goan.
