BJP-Backed Panel Submits Nominations for Panaji Municipal Corporation Elections
In a significant political development, the entire Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed panel for the upcoming elections to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) formally submitted its nomination papers on Friday. The panel was floated by Panaji MLA and Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate, marking a crucial step in the electoral process for the state capital's civic body.
Panel Leadership and Confidence in Past Performance
The BJP panel is led by outgoing mayor Rohit Monserrate, who serves as its prominent face. In statements to the media, the panel asserted that all key issues affecting Panaji over the past five years have been effectively addressed under their administration. Rohit Monserrate filed his nomination from Ward 4, where he pledged a renewed and intensified focus on the development and revival of Panaji during the next five-year term if elected.
Opposition Challenge and Electoral Dynamics
Monserrate's 30 candidates are poised to face a formidable challenge from the 'Ami Panjekar - Concerned Citizens of Panaji' panel, which is being fielded by a united opposition front. Rohit Monserrate acknowledged the competition, stating, "We're not taking the opposition lightly. They have good candidates and we also have very good candidates. People will vote for who they think is the best." This sets the stage for a closely contested election.
Opposition Candidate and Ward Contests
From the opposition camp, former mayor Surendra Furtado emerged as the lone candidate to file his nomination papers, backed by Utpal Parrikar. Furtado will contest from Ward 9, where he is set to take on Kabir Pinto Makhija from the BJP panel. Expressing confidence, Furtado claimed he could contest and win from any of the 30 wards in Panaji, highlighting the competitive spirit of the elections.
Composition of the BJP Panel
Atanasio Monserrate has strategically retained his loyalists and veteran councillors while introducing new faces to the panel. The full list of 30 candidates includes:
- Yutika Zambaulikar (Ward 1)
- Carolina Po (Ward 2)
- Margarida Fernandes (Ward 3)
- Rohit Monserrate (Ward 4)
- Kishore Sastry (Ward 5)
- Bento Lorena (Ward 6)
- Sanjiv Desai (Ward 7)
- Kareena Shirodkar (Ward 8)
- Kabir Pinto Makhija (Ward 9)
- Prasad Amonkar (Ward 10)
- Tukaram Chinanawar (Ward 11)
- Varsha Shetye (Ward 12)
- Uday Madkaikar (Ward 13)
- Prajyot Vaigankar (Ward 14)
- Shayani Chopdekar (Ward 15)
- Asmita Kerkar (Ward 16)
- Dennis Jorge (Ward 17)
- Krishna Shirodkar (Ward 18)
- Nikita Naik (Ward 19)
- Shubham Chodankar (Ward 20)
- Manisha Manerkar (Ward 21)
- Diksha Mainkar (Ward 22)
- Vidhya Gadkar (Ward 23)
- Karan Parekh (Ward 24)
- Kirti Sakhalakar (Ward 25)
- Vasant Agshikar (Ward 26)
- Vithal Chopdekar (Ward 27)
- Rupesh Halankar (Ward 28)
- Sandra Da Cunha (Ward 29)
- Silvestre Fernandes (Ward 30)
Political Reconciliation and Endorsements
In a notable political reconciliation, former mayor Uday Madkaikar, who had been a critic of Monserrate in recent years, settled his differences with the revenue minister to join the BJP panel. Madkaikar praised the outgoing administration, saying, "Rohit did good work during his tenure. A lot of development happened. Yes, some things were slow, but if you look in all four directions of Panaji, the city was developed." This endorsement adds weight to the panel's claims of effective governance.
The submission of nominations sets the stage for a vibrant electoral battle in Panaji, with both panels gearing up to woo voters ahead of the polls.
