In Salcete’s coastal villages, family raj and feud take political centerstage this p’yat polls

Colva: This panchayat elections saw ‘Family Raj’ as usual, but with a twist, with villages along the Salcete coast seeing relatives in a pitched battle at the polls against each other.

In Cavelossim, home to major star hotels and popular restaurants, five relatives were in the fray with as many as three locking horns in a single ward.

In ward 7, the battle was between cousins Freddy Cardoz and Mario Cardoz and environment activist Iris Passanha, who is Freddy’s in-law.

Their relatives, Swizel Barreto contested from ward 1 while from from ward 3 two-time panch member and restauranteur James Barreto made an attempt for a third term in ward 3.

James was up against ex-sarpanch Denisio Dias and founder president of the seafarers association Dixon Vaz in the seven-member panchayat.

In the seven-members panchayat of Carmona, ex-sarpanch Allywn Jorge fielded his wife Betsy in ward 5 reserved for women. Interestingly, his sister Pramila Jorge also threw her hat in the ring.

In most other neighbouring villages though it was the usual Family Raj.

In Orlim, ex-seafarer and trawler owner Simon Pereira, who had for long groomed ward 1 had to prop up his wife Zeeta when the ward came to be reserved for women. Simon stood from ward 4 in the seven-member panchayat.

In Varca, Addision Dias contested from Calvado while his wife Nora stood in the Laxette ward.

Father and daughter duo, Chagas and Chelsea Rodrigues, were also in the fray in Varca. While Chagas contested from Reprovado, Chelsea tried her hand at Guneavaddo. Former MLA Churchill Alemao’s daughter Sharon D’Costa tested the political waters in Novanguly. This ward was earlier the bastion of ex-sarpanch Charlton, but was reserved for women this time.

In the eleven-member Benaulim panchayat many contestants were related. David Fernandes and his wife Vencilla, an ex-sarpanch, sought a second term. Three-time panch member Xavier Pereira was declared unopposed. His wife, Diella, also an ex-sarpanch, also attempted for a second term. Then there was Johnny Albuquerque, who while trying his hand for a second time, had fielded his wife Janet from the Mondo ward. In ward 3, Jencia Barreto e Colaco tried her luck while her sister-in-law Rini Mascarenhas contested from ward 11.

In Betalbatim it was a similar story, where former tourism minister Francisco ‘Mickky’ Pacheco, who having failed to win the Nuvem assembly seat in March this year, fielded his wife, Viola, from ward 2 reserved for women. In the same panchayat, husband and wife duo, ex-deputy sarpanch Anthony Fernandes and his wife, Filomena Ratos, contested from ward 3 and ward 1, respectively.