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** ** Calangute, Saligao, Candolim set for pollsThe writer has posted comments on this articleTNN | Apr 22, 2012, 02.07AM IST CANDOLIM: With the filing of nominations for the May 16 panchayat elections starting Monday and ending by April-end, sitting sarpanchas and panchas, besides MLAs, ex-MLAs and ministers, have already started marshalling their forces in the tourism-dominated coastal villages of Candolim, Calangute<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Calangute>and Saligao. Speaking to STOI, all the three sitting sarpanchas-Fermino Fernandes of Candolim, Joseph Sequeira of Calangute and Lucas Remedios of Saligao-stated they will be contesting once again. The post of sarpanch will probably again be rotated among the members of the ruling panel. In Candolim, the panel backed by ex-MLA Agnelo Fernandes, which includes Fernandes, is preparing to retain its hold on the panchayat once again. According to the sarpanch, this election will not be fought over any issue, but will be more of a contest between individuals. "I don't think it will be issue-based. It will be on a personal level, more about the character of a person," he said. Although panchayat elections are not fought on party lines, Fernandes said that the Congress will form a panel of MLAs and ex-MLAs to monitor the polls<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/polls>. "I will be a part of that panel," he said, adding that voters look at the affiliation of the candidates before deciding who to vote for. He expects the panel backed by him to emerge victorious. "We have always been there for the people," he said. The Candolim <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Candolim> sarpanch said that in the last assembly election, although Fernandes lost his seat, he emerged with the highest votes in the Candolim area of the Calangute constituency, which is a reflection of his popularity in his home village. In Calangute, Sequeira, whose backing ensured that Lobo triumphed in the Calangute constituency in the recent assembly elections, also sounded confident that his panel would emerge victorious, more so because of his close links with the new MLA. But he also expressed caution. "Basically it's always in the people's hands. You cannot be too confident," he said, alluding to the confidence of the Congress party before the recent assembly polls. He added that there are no issues in Calangute. "We've been getting everybody's work done," said Sequeira. In Saligao <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Saligao>, the elevation of MLA Dilip Parulekar to minister of tourism is likely to be a factor in the re-election of Remedios. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Calangute-Saligao-Candolim-set-for-polls/articleshow/12817110.cms -- Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe email [email protected]
