With ward reservations on caste considerations courting controversies in the run up to the June 11 Panchayat poll, the stage is finally set for the two-day scrutiny of the total 1173 nominations received for the 33 village panchayats in Salcete taluka, with 11-member Benaulim village receiving the highest number of nomination papers, 73 to be precise.
MARGAO
The 11-member Davorlim panchayat followed suit with the Returning Officer receiving as many as 63 nominations. Around 45 nominations each were received by the Returning Officer for the Curtorim and Sao Jose de Areal panchayats.
The prospects of a couple of candidates being elected unopposed appears bright in Dramapur-Sirlim panchayat. Sources said that if the scrutiny process goes on smoothly, there may be even 2-3 candidates getting elected unopposed in the Dramapur-Sirlim panchayat. Possibility of one candidate being elected from the Navelim and Betalbatim villages is also not ruled out.
The three Returning Officers, Vishal Kundaikar, Manoj Korgaonkar and Shailendra Phaldesai, for 11 panchayats each, were holed up in their respective offices till late Thursday evening, bracing up for the scrutiny, beginning Friday.
Korgaonkar told The Goan that of the 11 panchayats under him, Davorlim-Dicarpale has received the highest number of nomination papers, 63 papers to be precise. The least number of nominations received by are for the 7-member panchayat of Dramapur-Dicarpale, around 14. Besides Davorlim and Dramapur, Manoj is the Returning officer for the villages of Rumdamol, Aquem-Baixo, Navelim,Telaulim, Varca, Chinchinim, Orlim, Carmona and Cavelossim.
Kundaikar received 514 nominations for Nagoa, Verna, Nuvem, Loutolim, Camurlim, Raia, Benaulim, Seraulim, Majorda, Betalbatim and Colva; while Phaldesai received 284 nominations for Curtorim, Rachol, Macazana, Chandor, Guirdolim, Paroda, Sarzora, Sao Jose de Areal, Assolna, Ambelim and Velim.
