With the Supreme Court scheduled to finally dispose of the ward reservation matter on Tuesday, Goa Forward vice-president Durgadasbab Kamat and a battery of local lawyers are bracing up to leave for the national capital on Sunday. As many as four lawyers representing the Goa Forward along with Durgadasbab will take the Sunday morning flight to Delhi with files and crucial documents, before they go into a huddle with their Supreme Court lawyer. What strategy the team will adopt in the Apex court remains a closely guarded secret, but everything may revolve on the Constitutional provision for 33 per cent women’s reservation. Wait and watch.
Vijai keeps all options open
Goa Forward Chief Vijaibab Sardesai seemed to have not lost hopes on the Supreme Court for justice in the Ward reservation tangle. This became evident on the last day of filing nominations when his candidates filed papers in the 11 wards of Fatorda. A glance at the list of candidates indicates that Vijaibab is keeping all options open, hoping the Apex Court would mete out justice. That Vijaibab’s candidates did not pose for a joint photograph for the media outside the office of the Returning Officer indicates the Goa Forward would unveil its list of candidates after the Supreme Court order.
The dilemma of Joaquim and Yuri
The father-son duo of Joaquim and Yuri Alemao find themselves in a predicament “ whether or not to unveil the panel of candidates for the Cuncolim Civic body. As part of a strategy, the duo was waiting for the saffron brigade to officially declare the ruling party’s candidates. The BJP, however, appears to be in a different ball game. Unlike the Marao Municipal Council, the saffron brigade has still not declared its set of candidates for the Cuncolim Civic body. Wary of the BJP on one hand and their opponents within the Congress on the other, all eyes are focused on the father-son duo how they will go about the elections.
Will Churchill back Gonazco or obey NCP?
The NCP leadership must have distanced itself from party MLA Churchill Alemao’s plan to field candidates for the Margao Municipal election. The candidate declared by the Varca strongman, however, remains in the fray. Former MMC Chairperson Gonzaco Rebello is contesting from ward no 1 and is expected to lock horns with Goa Forward candidate. What, however, remains unknown is whether Churchillbab will descend on the battlefield in support of Gonzaco or will he go by the party dictates not to interfere in Margao. Wait and watch.
Why isn't Tito aiming for a hat-trick?
Where’s is outgoing Margao Municipal vice-Chairperson and Goa Forward ST leader, Tito Cardozo? Why is he not contesting the ensuing elections for the Margao Civic body? Well, Tito was twice elected from the Borda ward, and rose to become the MMC vice-Chairperson in the last term. The son of former three-time Fatorda MLA Luis Alex Cardozo, source said, had conveyed his decision not to contest the ensuing polls to Vijaibab Sardesai, prompting the Goa Forward Chief to look out for alternative. The question that remains unanswered is what prompted Tito to stay away from the election.
