CANACONA
The wife of Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar has decided to contest elections in Poinguinim while one candidate is set to be elected unopposed in another ward of the village, as 82 candidates filed their nominations on Monday.
Filing of nominations came to an end on Monday and 241 candidates have staked claim to 59 seats in seven different panchayats in Canacona.
Returning Officer Manoj Korgaonkar confirmed that 82 nominations were submitted on Monday.
Sunil Paingankar was the only candidate to file his nomination from the unreserved (General) Ward 4 in Mahalwada-Poinguinim and is set to be elected unopposed as panch.
An engineer by profession, Sunil is a building contractor and educationist who has been active in Arts and Sports and his wife late Archana Paingankar had previously served as deputy sarpanch of the village.
Savita Tawadkar, wife of Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar also filed her nomination to contest the forthcoming panchayat election from Ward 9 (Amone) of Poinguinim panchayat on Monday.
After filing her nominations, Savita made it clear that she is contesting elections to become sarpanch, since the post in the Poinguinim Panchayat will be reserved for women, and assured bring in development to the panchayat.
Should Savita go on to win the elections, it will be history of sorts in Canacona as her husband is the sitting MLA and she could be the sarpanch of a village.
This is the first-ever panchayat election for the Tawadkar couple as Ramesh Tawadkar had never contested panchayat elections even though he is a four-term MLA.
Savita is contesting from the ST-reserved Ward 9 of Amone, where their family was previously residing before shifting to Ruby Residency at Chaudi after 2012 Assembly elections. They continue to be voters of Poinguinim.
Besides Poinguinim, the post of sarpanch is likely to be reserved for women in Shristhal and Loliem-Polem Panchayats.
Stating everyone has the liberty to contest elections, Savita said she has no intention to force other candidates to withdraw to get her elected unopposed.
“I am not aware if other contestants will withdraw in my favour, but it our last-minute decision to contest the panchayat polls as the post of Poinguinim sarpanch will be reserved for women, she said.
