PANAJI
‘United Panaji Front’, the panel backed by the State Congress is the youngest among three panels floated for the elections to the Corporation of City of Panaji with the average age of candidates being 41.
This is followed by the ‘Panaji First’ panel, backed by BJP and ‘Panjim City Corporation Development Front’ panel, backed by Taleigao bigwig Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate.
The average age of candidates of United Panaji Front is 41 years, that of candidates of Panaji First is 44 years and of Panjim City Corporation Development Front is 46 years.
In the 30-member Panaji First panel, the youngest candidate is 24-year-old Pramay Mainkar and the oldest candidate is 68-year-old Bharati Heble. While Pramay is contesting the elections for the first time from ward 16, Heble is the sitting councillor of ward 13 and is presently contesting from ward 11.
Speaking to The Goan, Pramay Mainkar said, “The main reason to contest the election was because of the lack of development in my ward. The Wallis Bhat area has remained neglected for several years. There is no 100 per cent coverage as regards sewerage connectivity is concerned, no community toilets and garbage is being dumped in open spaces. And more importantly, I am not a parachute candidate. I have been born and brought up in the area.”
Sitting councillor Bharati Heble, however, said her main target would be traffic management. “Now electronic traffic signals would be installed at important junctions/ intersections in the ward. Pedestrian crossing will be facilitated. Moreover, warning blinkers would be put up at various locations.”
As regards the 30-member Panjim City Corporation Development Front panel is concerned, there are three young candidates of the same age “ Shubhada Shirgaonkar from ward 6, Asmita Kerkar from ward 22 and Lorraine Dias from ward 26. The oldest candidate is 65-year-old Pascoela Mascarenhas, who is the sitting councillor of ward 16 and presently contesting from ward 17.
Mascarenhas, however, said her priority would be to keep the ward clean and neat and carry out the necessary maintenance.
Asmita Kerkar who is contesting for the first time said she is looking at development in her ward as it has remained neglected for many years. Shirgaonkar will address basic issues which include water logging, garbage management and continuous water supply. Lorraine was, however, unavailable for comments.
In the 20-member United Panaji Front panel, the youngest candidate is 21-year-old Smita Vaingankar who is contesting from ward 6, while the oldest is 60-year-old Avinash Bhonsle from ward 22. Bhonsle, who is contesting the election for the fourth time, has been a councillor for two terms “ 1985-1990 and 2006-2011.
“The autonomy which existed earlier when Panaji was a municipal council does not exist any more. Even though it has been upgraded as a Corporation, it has lesser powers”, he lamented.
The youngest candidate Smita Vaingankar was unavailable for comments.
