MAPUSA
The political battle for the municipal elections is yet to take shape but the ruling BJP has been grappling with the problem of plenty in Mapusa.
Several BJP karyakartas have been approaching the local BJP MLA and the senior party leaders staking claim to contest the ward election on the BJP panel.
Even in the wards where the party has decided to re-nominate sitting councillors, there are strong BJP aspirants whom the party cannot afford to ignore.
For example, the BJP is sure to re-nominate former chairperson and sitting councillor Sandip Falari in Ward 12 but the party is facing a stiff challenge from a senior karyakarta Hanumant Warang, better known as Balu in Mapusa.
Similarly, Shubam Parsekar, a member of BJP Yuva Morcha, has staked claim in Ward 16 where the BJP will in all probability field Vishwas Salgaonkar, husband of sitting councillor, Vibha, in the ward.
Three aspirants are staking claim for Ward 14 and all three are strong contenders. Husband of sitting councillor and former BJP mandal chief Damodar Lanjekar is the natural choice in the ward but he is facing tough contest from Rishikesh Gadi and Sainath Raul of the young BJP brigade.
Sources in the BJP said that in at least 10 wards the outgoing councillors who are political stalwarts in their own right will be re-nominated. And those whose wards have been reserved their wives or husbands will be the natural choice.
Former chairpersons Ryan Braganza (ward 9), Sandip Falari (ward 12) and councilors Marlene D’Souza (ward 8), Franky Carvalho (ward 7), Rajsingh Rane (ward 17) and Swapnil Shirokar (ward 15) will be re-nominated on the BJP panel.
Similarly, wife of former chairperson, Rohan Kavlekar (ward 18) and councillor Sushant Harmalkar (ward 4) and husbands of sitting councillors Deepti Langekar (ward 14) and Vibha Salgoankar (ward 16) are also expected to be on the BJP panel.
Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza admitted that the party indeed had more than two aspirants in some wards.
“Being in power has its own set of problems as everyone wants to cash in on the party’s popularity. We will give an opportunity to candidates who have the ability to win and are acceptable to the people,” D’Souza said.
