MARGAO
Even as the key players for the ensuing polls for the Margao Municipal Council are engaged with the task of candidate selection, a group of prospective candidates under the banner of Shadown Council for Margao unfurled a banner in the city on Monday with a slogan People’s candidate vs Imposed candidates.
Addressing the media, SCM Convenor Savio Coutinho said the concept of supporting people's candidates has gained momentum with the NGO unveiling the names of three candidates for the MMC elections in the presence of citizens.
Coutinho informed that the reason for the initiative of fielding people's candidates for the upcoming Municipal elections was solely on account of the miserable failure on the part of the outgoing Council inspite of the fact that the Magaonkars had given an overwhelming majority to the alliance formed in 2015.
“The genuine issues of Margao continued to remain on the back burner, but personal interests and scams were galore," Coutinho lamented.
He added: “Prior to the elections everyone speaks about ruling and opposition sides, but once elected all are "rolling", and this fact was well experienced by the Margao citizens during the last five years”.
In the first list, Adv Seoula Vas was announced as the candidate from the unreserved ward no 3, while Eng Veren D'silva and Poma Rajesh Kerkar will be candidates from ward no 15 and 20 respectively.
A banner of the three candidates was unfurled by the candidates with a slogan 'People’s candidates vs Imposed candidates'.
Speaking to the media, the three candidates revealed their strong desire to work for the community and the city, and more specifically be a strong voice of the people.
Dr Jorson Fernandes was the key speaker at the function and appealed to support and elect candidates who are committed to the public welfare and most importantly with high level of integrity.
Dr Jorson also highlighted the importance of weeding out corruption which happens to be the root cause of all the city's ills.
Coutinho revealed that they would field and support 12-15 candidates and work towards their victory.
Arjun Gawande welcomed the gathering, while several other people expressed their views and appreciated the initiative of encouraging people's candidates.
