INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES TO PLAY CRUCIAL ROLE FOR NEXT FIVE YEARS

PANJIM: Independent candidates contesting elections to the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) are looking to play the crucial role of kingmakers to decide who will rule the civic body for the next five years.  Considering a situation where the electorate could deliver a hung verdict, a few independents have even exuded confidence of getting voted to power, thereby establishing a pressure group to help them call the shots.

Veteran independent candidate and sitting CCP corporator Surendra Furtado is counting on himself and wife Ruth to get elected from ward 9 and 10 in Miramar. He is also hopeful that Tukaram Chinawar, an independent candidate from ward 8, Oscar Cunha from ward 26, and Ashley do Rosario from ward 11, will triumph at the polls.

When asked which of the rival panels would successful independent candidates support in the event of a fractured mandate, Furtado said, "We will form a pressure group. Let them (rival panels) support us, if they want to be in the ruling panel."

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has also fielded 11 candidates at this CCP elections. Realistically, the panel has chances of two or a maximum of three winning the ballot. When posed with the same question as the independents, Avinash Bhonsle, who heads the NCP panel, said, "Even if we win 2-3 seats, let other panels support us. Before we tie up with anyone, we will sieve out those who have the interests of the capital at heart."

Aires Rodrigues who is contesting ward 30 in Ribandar said "Let them (rival panels) support us if they want to be in the ruling panel." Incidentally, there are 22 independent candidates contesting the civic polls this time.