CANACONA
With many outgoing councillors unable to seek re-election in their wards on account of reservations, surrogates fielded by them will be tested in two wards at the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) elections.
WARD 5 (KINDLEM)
Kindlem ward may have a mere 646 voters, but an interesting battle has unfolded between two candidates fielded by two ex-chairpersons, who became ineligible to contest after Kindlem was the only ward in CMC to be double reserved for OBC women.
Amita Pagi has been fielded by Ramakant Naikgaunkar and his wife, Prarthana, both having served as chairpersons.
“We do not have any issue, as people are well-aware of Ramakant and Prarthana Naikgaunkar, who have served Kindlem for 10 years,” said Pagi.
Incidentally, Amita’s rival, Roshan Pagui, has been fielded by another ex-chairperson, Santosh Gaonkar, who is a seasoned politician.
Gaonkar insists there are several issues and problems in the ward.
“No one is willing to accept the claims of the Naikgaunkar family and people want to elect someone who will not be remote-controlled by anyone else,” said Gaonkar.
WARD 6 (PONSULEM)
Like Kindlem, Ponsulem, which has 993 voters, has also been reserved for an OBC candidate, leaving four aspirants, including two ex-chairpersons, from the general category out of the contest. Three of the four contestants are from the ward, while the fourth is from the neighbouring ward.
While Narcisco Fernandes has been fielded by BJP leader Vishal Desai, Wilson Fernandes is backed by ex-chairperson Shamsunder Desai and also has the support of ex-chairperson and GPCC Secretary Mahadev Dessai.
“The main contest will be between Narcisco and Wilson, but the third candidate, Gilbert Fernandes, can play spoilsport, while the fourth candidate, Ajay Gosavi, is an import in the ward and is unlikely to get significant votes,” said a local.
Shamsunder Desai claims there are not many issues in the ward and said ongoing development is needed to be carried forward by the new councillor.
However, Mahadev Dessai, who is backing the same candidate, feels the ward has been facing water and electricity problems, which need to be addressed by the new councillor.
BJP leader Vishal Desai who has fielded Narcisco Fernandes claims that people have been suffering due to erratic water and electricity since the last 5 years.
