Daijiworld Media Network – Canacona

Canacona, Dec 9: The filing of nominations for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections gained momentum in Canacona on Monday, with candidates from the BJP, Congress, and Goa Forward Party submitting their papers before the Returning Officer.

BJP candidates Ajay (Ajit) Lolienkar from Poinguinim and Tejal Pagi from Khola filed their nominations in the presence of Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar and former deputy chief minister Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar at the Canacona BDO Office.

Congress MLA and Quepem leader Altone D’Costa accompanied Sumitra Pagi, the Congress candidate from Khola, as she submitted her papers. From the Congress-GFP alliance, Prashant Naik of the Goa Forward Party was the first to file his nomination, supported by former minister Isidore Fernandes.

In a twist, Congress rebel and former Khotigao sarpanch Daya Gaonkar also entered the fray by submitting his nomination.

“I am contesting to win. It does not matter to me who gets defeated. I am a Congressman, and all Congress workers are supporting me. Even after winning, I will remain with the Congress,” Gaonkar asserted.

BJP candidate Ajay Lolienkar expressed confidence, stating that the strong backing of grassroots BJP karyakartas would ensure his victory in Poinguinim. BJP’s Tejal Pagi also filed her papers accompanied by Minister Tawadkar.

Congress MLA Altone D’Costa, meanwhile, said he was unaware of any formal alliance with the GFP despite both parties appearing jointly in the contest.