From Our Special Corresponden

Daijiworld Media Network

Panaji, Dec 4: The elections for all 30 wards of the Corporation in the city will be held on March 13 next year.

The state government on Wednesday notified March 13 2016 to hold the council elections. The elections are held every five years. The last elections were held in 2011, wherein the BJP backed panel had won the council with Vaidhei Naik as its mayor.

However, within a year, during mayor election, Naik was defeated by MLA Atanasio Monerrate supported candidate Surendra Furtado, who ruled CCP for two consecutive years.

Currently, BJP backed panel is again in power with Shubham Chodankar as mayor.

This election is likely to see three panels. Along with BJP and Monerrate panel, Furtado is expected to field his own panel. In the recent year, Furtado is at loggerheads with both BJP and Monerrate. In the absence of former local MLA Manohar Parrikar, it will be a major challenge for the first time MLA Siddhart Kuncolienkar, to retain CCP.