VP, ZP bypolls: Low turnout predicted

MARGAO/PANAJI: The stage is set for the by-election to four seats of zilla panchayat in Nuvem and Curtorim in South Goa and Corlim and Calangute in North Goa, even as a low turn out is expected due to lack of enthusiasm among voters on Sunday.
The vacancies in South Goa have been caused by two former ZP members, Wilfred ‘Babashian’ D’Sa in Nuvem and Clafacio Dias in Curtorim contesting assembly elections successfully on February 4, 2017.
In North Goa, power minister Pandurang Madkaikar’s wife Janita Madkaikar’s resignation as ZP to contest panchayat polls caused the void. Earlier, she had resigned as panch to contest ZP polls successfully in March 2015.
Congress has jumped on the poll bandwagon, fielding Joy Fernandes, who is backed by former Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira and and former MLA Agnelo Fernandes against Michael Lobo-backed nominee Dattaprasad Dabholkar for the Calangute seat.
In Corlim, Anisha Victor Pereira has been given the party ticket and is locked in a straight fight against BJP nominee and a new face, Mahima Desai. Both are new faces, but the Congress nominee is backed by her husband and former deputy sarpanch of Corlim panchayat, Victor Pereira, in this segment with panchayats of Old Goa, Divar, Corlim, Cumbharjua and St Estevam.
In Curtorim, the Congress party has fielded Marino Rebello and he is facing Conceicao Dias, Dionisio Sardinha, both independents while Rebello is backed by local Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco.
Former Sao Jose de Areal sarpanch Julio Monteiro told STOI, “The public is not enthusiastic about the ZP bypolls which will result in a low turnout as there has been no development in the last two-and-a-half years.”
In Nuvem ZP constituency, comprising Nuvem, Verna and Nagoa, it will be a straight fight between Congress candidate Ruben D’Costa and independent Mario Rodrigues. MLA D’Sa is backing D’Costa.