MARGAO
South Goa Zilla Panchayat members belonging to the ruling BJP seemed to grope in the dark over the party’s candidate for election to the post of ZP Chairperson scheduled on September 2.
Though South Goa ZP Chief Executive Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar has issued a notice, setting in motion the election process on August 30 (Friday), including nomination and withdrawal of candidates on the same day, the BJP leadership appears tight-lipped over the party’s official candidate for the vacant post of ZP Chairperson.
Ask any BJP member about the party candidate for the hot seat and apt comes a reply that the party leadership will take the final call on the selection of the party nominee for the ensuing polls.
Ruling ZP members told The Goan that the party is yet to have a meeting of the ZP members before taking a call on the party’s candidate. Sources in the ruling camp say the party leadership may call the ruling ZP members together on Friday morning itself before the party-backed candidate files her nomination for the vacant post.
Sources in the ruling camp, however, say the battle for the post has narrowed between Sancoale ZP member Anita Thorat and party’s Guirdolim ZP member Sanjana Velip. Incidentally, both Anita and Sanjana are first-time ZP members.
Sources pointed out that while Anita Thorat may have the full backing of Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, a section of the party leadership, including ZP members, are rooting for Sanjana Velip’s candidature.
Sources further pointed out that the party leadership is expected to take a call on the ZP Chairperson’s post considering all aspects, including the fact that the Zilla Panchayat polls are scheduled around November-December 2025.
Elections for the post of South ZP Chairperson have been necessitated after the party leadership issued a diktat to Chairperson Suvarna Tendulkar to resign from the post. The South ZP Chairperson’s post is reserved for a woman.
The BJP is enjoying a clear majority in the 25-member South ZP body. It is not yet clear whether the Opposition, including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, will field a candidate for the vacant post.
