MARGAO
The ruling Cuncolim Municipal Council, supported by Cuncolim MLA and Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, received a further boost when the candidate backed by the MLA was elected in the by-election for Ward No. 10 of the civic body.
Mariano Soares was declared elected in the by-poll, defeating Premdeep Desai by a margin of 168 votes. While Mariano polled 453 votes, Premdeep had to be content with 285 votes in the straight contest.
After his election, Mariano told the media that he was backed by the Leader of the Opposition, Yuri Alemao, in the bye-poll. He said he would take up work in his ward with the help and support of the Cuncolim MLA.
Incidentally, Mariano had lost the election from Ward No. 10 in the 2021 municipal polls by just 11 votes. The Yuri Alemao-backed panel has been ruling the Cuncolim civic body since 2021.
