the goan I network
MARGAO
Businessmen, contractors, a bus operator, besides candidates closely associated with the grass-root panchayat bodies and only a handful of professionals.
Indeed, the line-up of candidates for the nine zilla panchayats spread across minority Salcete, includes a bus operator, road contractors and activists and not to mention a couple of candidates linked to the matka and gambling activities. One would find only a lone doctor in the fray, couple of engineers amongst the professionals contesting in the nine zilla panchayat seats in the taluka.
A glance at the 30-odd candidates in the fray for the March 22 zilla panchayat election for the nine constituencies in Salcete taluka reveal that the candidates have varied backgrounds, some novice in the world of politics and others rooted in the grass-root panchayat politics.
Take the case of Raia Independent candidate, Domnic Gaonkar. Domnic had first won the seat in the 2005 election and retained the seat in the subsequent election in 2010. After Raia was reserved for women in 2015, Domnick fielded his wife to retain the seat and is now back in the fray in the 2020 poll.
Similarly, Independent Velim candidate, Anthony Rodrigues has been representing the constituency for the last 10 years. Anthony had first won the seat in 2010. He retained control over the seat in 2015 when he fielded his sister-in-law, Mancy, after Velim was reserved for women. Anthony is back in the fray as an Independent in 2020.
Navelim sitting member Cipru Cardzo is seeking re-election for the third time from Navelim after having won the seat twice in 2010 and 2015. Sitting Davorlim ZP member, Ulhas Tuemkar, who was associated with panchayat politics for around two decades, is seeking re-election.
A couple of candidates in the fray also include former Sarpanchas such as Royla Fernandes (Benaulim), Suzie Fernandes (Colva), Dr Breezy Baretto (Nuvem), Sonia Fernandes (Guirdolim), K Murtuza (Davorlim), Joseph Vaz (Rachol), besides sitting Panch Babush Coelho (Navelim).
Some of the new and young faces in the fray include Aam Admi Party’s candidate for the Benaulim seat Hanzel Fernandes, a mechanical engineer by profession and 23-year old Ashwarya Fernandes, MCom for the Colva seat. A couple of candidates fielded by the AAP, mostly women, have all been associated with activism in Salcete or are lending their helping hands to the family business.
