MAPUSA
Apart from having to replace some candidates due to rejig in the reservation process, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza on Saturday said he was also open to the idea of replacing some candidates in other wards, if needed.
He also said he expected changes in quite a few wards which would all depend on the system that the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) will employ in fixing the reservation equation.
“Besides having to replace candidates due to fresh reservation, I am ready to bite the bullet and do changes in the other wards to come up with a winning combination for the BJP panel,” D’Souza said.
The Mapusa MLA was responding to queries on various options available due to the changed scenario after the Supreme Court judgement on the reservation process in elections to five municipal councils, including Mapusa.
D’Souza accepted that changes would definitely be there and in more than one or two wards in Mapusa.
“In some places, it will remain the same. If we go by the ratio of 50 percent general and 50 percent reservation, then we will have to be ready for the changes. I am expecting changes in 10 wards but it all depends on the criteria adopted by the DMA. For the moment, everybody seems to be clueless on the issue,” he said.
He further said convincing the candidates to withdraw does not arise as they are bound to make way for new candidates due to changed scenario on account of the order of the highest court in the country.
“The present candidates will have to make way for others if the reservation changes. There is no choice. They have to accept it,” he said.
On whether the government’s decision to approach the Supreme Court was a wrong move, the Mapusa MLA said the government was confident that the apex court would rule in its favour.
“The halt in the election process has halted the momentum of our campaign. But we will bounce back,” he said.
