MARGAO: Despite two strong women leaders Nelly Rodrigues and Maria Rebello are out from the zilla panchayat election race, it looks like women folk will dominate this ZP election pertaining to the Salcete taluka. There are several women candidates preparing themself to contest the election.
The Salcete taluka is consists of constituencies such as Guirdolim, Benaulim, Colva, Nuvem, Velim, Davorlim, Navelim, Raia and Curtorim.
According to sources, Royala Fernandes is a front runner for the Congress ticket from the Benaulim constituency. Royala was earlier with the Aam Admi Party. It may be recalled that in the last Assembly election she had polled noticeable votes and stood second. For the last many years she had been seen fighting for several social issues, which include opposing the western bypass highway.
In Guirdolim, which is reserved for the women, Sonia Fernandes and Vinda Naik are front runners and they both are planning to file their nomination forms in the coming days. While on the other side, Nuvem constituency has been reserved for the Scheduled Caste women. And Nuvem MLA is working very hard and he has almost finalised the candidate in Nuvem. But at the same time, Congress party is also very kin to take over the Nuvem constituency by winning this ZP seat.
Curtorim constituency is also been reserved for the women and seating ZP member Moreno Rebello has already taken a decision to file the form of his wife Mishel Rebello. Sarpanch and panch members of Curtorim panchayat have already given green signal to the Michel.
But Guirdolim and Velim are the two constituencies that will be interesting to watch. Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias and Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues are the two MLAs out of ten who have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, shifting from the Congress. They are yet to decide how to go in the ZP election. As informed by the sources they are not very comfortable to fight the ZP election on the party line and especially on the BJP ticket. BJP party has also not decided their candidates in both the constituencies. goa