The Times of India 12.10.2010
122 aspirants for Margao’s 20-ward civic body
MARGAO: With 71 candidates entering the fray on the last day for receiving nominations, the total number of contestants for the civic polls in Margao has risen to 122.
Monday saw a heavy rush of candidates and their supporters at the South Goa collectorate building in the commercial capital. Along with the large number of new candidates were some sitting councillors.
Outgoing Margao municipal council (MMC) chairperson Savio Coutinho who represents ward 16, has fielded wife Pratima as the ward has been reserved for women. Councillor John Crasto of ward 2, has similarly fielded wife Angela as the ward is now reserved.
Avita Kavlekar, counicllor of ward 12, has not filed her nomination, but brother-in-law Vivek Kavlekar has entered the fray. Interestingly, sitting councillor Rajendra Azgaonkar, brother of sports minister Monohar Azgaonkar, has not filed his nomination, nor has former chairperson Kamlini Paiguinkar who represents ward 17.
Among the new candidates in the latter ward is Laxmikant Kamat, reportedly a close relative of chief minister and Margao legislator Digambar Kamat. Similarly prominent among candidates in ward 20 are BJP office bearer Rupesh Mahatme.
Meanwhile, the highest number of nominations received are from wards 6 and 18 where 10 candidates each are contesting including a number of independents.
Eight candidates each are in the fray in wards 11, 12 and 15, while wards 2 and 4 have seven candidates each contesting the elections. Six candidates are in the fray from wards 3, 16 and 20, while wards 7, 14 and 17 have five candidates each.
Four candidates each are in the fray in wards 1, 5, 8, 10 and 13. While only two candidates have filed their nominations for ward 19. Wards 2, 7, 13, 16 and 19 are reserved for women while wards 10 and 16 are reserved for OBC women. Wards 3 and 4 are reserved for ST candidates, while wards 8, 15 and 17 are reserved for OBC men.
Only eight of the 20 wards are open to contestants from the general category. Sitting councillors in the fray are Piedade Noronha (ward 3), Livrament Baretto (ward 4), Raju Naik (ward 5), Raju Shirodkar (ward 6), Babita Naik (ward 7), Luis Gonsal Rebello (ward 8), Camilo Baretto (ward 9), Narayan Fondekar (ward 11), Johnson Fernandes (ward 13) and Manjusha Kaskar (ward 15).
Aspiring candidate and social activist Purnanand Chari has demanded that the returning officer be replaced as he “apprehends that he (returning officer) may use the concept of ‘creamy layer’ to reject my nomination and exclude me from contesting”. The resident of ward 8, alleged in his press statement, “I had applied for an OBC certificate which was issued to me. However while issuing it, the returning officer told me that the certificate is of no use since I belong to a ‘creamy layer’ (economically better off among OBC).” “To my knowledge, no creamy layer exclusion is made under any law in force. Vested politicians are trying to subvert the democratic process by preventing genuine candidates from contesting the elections,” Chari stated.
