Billed as the most crucial election, the voters that
went to the polls today 12th March, 2006 to elect the
first set of 30 corporators to deal with the future of
the Corporation of City of Panaji for the next five
years until March 2011 turned out in large numbers.
According to a teleconversation this writer had with
the State Election Commissioner Mr P M Borkar on +91
0832 2232632 at 20OO hrs today the polling was
generally peaceful and the turn out registered was
63.63%
The panels were backed by Minister for Town and
Country Planning and MLA INC Taleigao Mr Antanasio
(Babush ) Monserrate, the other by the Nationalist
Congress Party of Dr Wilfred De Souza and the last by
Mr Manohar Parrikar BJP MLA Panaji and Leader of the
Opposition Goa Legislative Assembly, Ms Victoria
Fernandes Deputy Speaker Goa Legislative Assembly INC
MLA Santacruz and Mr Somnath Zuarkar ex INC MLA
Taleigao MLA .
Interestingly the Corporation of City has 30 wards two
of which Ribander and Chimbel fall in the Santa Cruz
Assembly Constituency in Taleigao Constituency and
in Panaji Assembly.
Elections to Municipalities and Panchayats are
officially not fought on party lines despite the
statutory powers given to these bodies under the 73rd
and 74th Constitutional amendments since 1992 However
the MLAs of relevant Assembly constituencies under
which the wards of the Corporation come under try to
ensure that their candidates come to power so that
their position is consolidated at the time of Assembly
elections. Even ex politicos and aspiring ones too
ensure that their presence is felt to consolidate
their vote bank.
The reason why these elections assume significance is
the challenged thrown by Mr Monserrate to get all the
30 seats as his full page advertisements on local
dailies revealed. The others opposing his panel
intend to clip his wings after Mr Monseratte a no
nonsense MLA and Minister got his way around after he
had part of the Taleigao wards reverted back to the
Village Panchayat status from the Municipal status as
a quid pro quo for extending support to the then BJP
led coalition that came to power in June 2002. Mr
Monserrate however had to eat a humble pie when the
MLA Santa Cruz Ms Fernandes got most of the villages
within and outside her constituency removed from the
Planning Development areas under the North Goa
Planning Development Authority after a protracted
struggle ending January, 2006 and put to "sleep" the
draconian Town and Country Planning Ordinance on
September, 2005.
Besides the manifesto of Mr Monserrate that promises
sweeping development changes in the Corporation of
City of Panaji -- Mr Monserrate is known for getting
things done his way, no matter the obstacles. He is
credited for keeping the entire Congress MLA bandwagon
at his residence "Casa Monseratte" at Taleigao
immediately after the "Tsunami" that struck the BJP
lead coalition of Mr Manohar Parrikar on 27th January,
2005, and ensuring that with the support of Mr
Churchill Alemao MP ex Independent MLA Loutolim
Radharao Gracias Mr Filipe Rodrigues Independent MLA
Velim they staged the coup for the Congress come back
after a 24th October 2000 to 2nd Febraury 2005 drought
the INC suffered.
>From the feed back obtained from voters by this writer
it is clear that Mr Monseratte is well heading for a
majority (16 being the half way mark). The other
combine has nearly conceded defeat to some extent by
their utterances post Curchorem Cacora Sanvordem
riots.
Interestingly there is a sizeable number of migrant
voters which can twist the votes in the ballot boxes.
Tommorrow is the day of counting at the Institute
Menezes Braganza Hall commencing at 0800 hrs
FROM THE TALEIGAO END
GODFREY J I GONSALVES
BORDA MARGAO GOA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
9822158584
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