MARGAO
Around 14,544 voters, with 6,916 males and 7,628 females will cast their votes on Saturday in the elections for the 14-member Cuncolim Municipal Council where as many as 66 candidates, including half a dozen former chairpersons, ex-councillors and new faces are in the fray.
Though the main political parties and the players shied away from officially unveiling their candidates due to strategic reasons, political bigwigs including Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias descended on the battlefield in support of the BJP-backed candidates. On the other hand, the father-son duo of Joaquim and Yuri Alemao has fielded their panel of candidates in all the 14 seats. A couple of independents backing by non-political groups are also in the fray.
Amongst the former chairpersons in the fray includes, Succorina Texeira, Polita Carneiro, Lavita Mascarenhas, Landry Mascarenhas, Anjela Luis, former vice-chairpersons Shashank Desai and Mario Moraes.
Ward No 14, which is witnessing a straight fight, is the cynosure of all eyes with Videsh Desai, the brother-in-law of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, seeking re-election from the ward. He is being challenged by Prasad Rama Desai.
Similarly, Ward No 13 is also witnessing a straight fight between former councillor Anthony Vaz and Melbon Da Costa. In these two wards, the contestants are believed to have not left a single stone unturned to woo the voters.
Ward No 9, Demani Ward, has the highest number of candidates, with 10 candidates to be precise.
Both the Congress-turned-BJP Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias and Goa Forward-turned-Congress leader Yuri Alemao has exuded confidence of their candidates winning in majority of the wards. “The party has fielded candidates in most of the municipal wards. I am confident that the BJP will form the next council in the interest of the town and to usher development,” Clafacio told The Goan.
Both Joaquim and Yuri Alemao also expressed confidence of forming the next council. “I am confident that around 8-9 candidates fielded by the Congress will emerge victorious in the elections. We have received good support from the people of Cuncolim,” Yuri said, hoping the support will be converted into votes on polling day.
Both the MLA Clafacio Dias and the father-son duo of Joaquim and Yuri Alemao has left nothing for chance, as they went about systematically to woo the electorate.
