MARGAO: With the saffron surge in the South Goa zilla panchayat body, the focus has now shifted to the election of its chairperson. As the post has been reserved for women, sources said that at least three contenders are vying for the position.
While Suvarna Tendulkar, who got elected from Sanvordem constituency in the December 12 South Goa zilla panchayat election, is the frontrunner for the chairperson’s post considering the “seniority” point of view, sources said that Anita Thorat, who got elected unopposed from Sancoale and Sanjana Velip who won from Guirdolim may well pip Tendulkar to the post, considering the power play within the BJP.
Sources said that as Tendulkar got elected for the second consecutive term, she becomes the “natural’ contender for the post, as both Thorat and Velip are new entrants in the zilla panchayat. However, with panchayat minister Mauvin Godinho likely to put his weight behind Thorat, deputy chief minister Chandrakant Kavlekar could well be batting for Velip, and sources said the “chosen one” will be decided by the party brass.
For the post of deputy chairperson, Ulhas Tuyekar and Khushali Jorgo Velip are favourites in terms of seniority. While Tuyekar won from Davorlim for the second time after winning the Davorlim panchayat elections for three terms, Velip won from Barcem for the fourth time. However, while Tuyekar is a hardcore grassroots BJP worker, Velip is a new entrant in the saffron party.
Sources said that as deputy chief minister Chandrakant Kavlekar succeeded in retaining BJP’s sway over several constituencies considered to be his fiefdom, the Quepem MLA is likely to play a major role in the selection of the deputy chairperson as well. Khushali is considered Kavlekar’s trusted aide. Besides, as he belongs to the ST community, the dynamics of tribal vote bank politics is likely to have a bearing on the selection of the deputy chairperson, sources said.
Sources, however, said that the recent trend of sharing the post among contenders is likely to come to an end, with BJP maintaining total sway over the ZP body.