Will Margao Municipal Chairperson Arthur D'Silva continue with his winning streak? Will sitting Councillor Damu Shirodkar score a goal again to make it to the civic body for the second time? Or, will the BJP and other candidates manage to upset the apple cart of both the sitting councillors?
Ward 22 of the Margao Municipal Council has suddenly turned 'high-profile', with Arthur, elected from Agalli ward in Fatorda, seeking re-election from Aquem. And, not to mention Damu Shirodkar, who moved into the ward after his home ward was reserved for women. A foot soldier of former chief minister, Digambar Kamat, Damu has received full backing and support of the five-time Margao MLA.
Though Arthur was expecting Kamat’s support in lieu of helping him out in the Louis Berger bribery scandal, the Margao legislator has strongly rallied behind Damu. In fact, Kamat has given an open call to Aquemkars to support and elect Damu will a thumping majority.
Ward 22 is the home of BJP leader, Bhai Naik, who incidentally happens a close friend of the MMC Chairperson. Though Bhai had recommended two names to the party leadership, none of them found favour with the BJP leadership. Bhai says he will support the BJP candidate in the coming election, even though many say that his supporters may throw their weight behind Arthur.
A total of seven candidates are left in the fray in the ward, including BJP’s Kanekar Kaustubh Gajanan, Onskar Prasad Ganpat, Pagi Shivani Shrikant, Raikar Parag Gajanan and Sinai Borkar.
Ward 22 comprises around 2,588 electorate, with around 1,327 males and 1,261 females. Incidentally, a sizeable number of the electorate is holed up atop the migrant inhabited Moti Dongor, which has been the stronghold of the Margao MLA over the years. Much water, however, has flown down since the last three years and half with the BJP coming to power in the 2012 elections. A section of the Moti Dongor residents have embraced the BJP to save the axe from falling on their shanties. Against this background, it remains to be seen in which way the voters from Moti Dongor away in the municipal polls.
- Arthur D’Silva
- Kanekar Kaustubh Gajanan
- Onskar Prasad Ganpat
- Pagi Shivani Shrikant
- Raikar Parag Gajanan
- Shirodkar Damodar Babal
- Sinai Borkar
- Male “ 1,327
- Female “ 1,261
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