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After rural Goa, BJP sweeps urban bodies, registers big win in Panaji | Goa News – Times of India

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PANAJI: With state assembly elections less than a year away, BJP added to their victories in zilla panchayat just three months ago with sweeping success in polls for seven urban local bodies, including the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).
Elections were held on Saturday. When votes were counted on Monday, BJP-backed panels emerged triumphant in six of the seven urban local bodies. The only setback was in Cuncolim, where opposition Congress triumphed.

Congress, though, had little else to celebrate.
After winning just four of the 48 zilla panchayat seats in December when BJP picked up 33, their cup of woes is now overflowing with loss even in its bastion of Navelim. Represented by Congress heavyweight and former chief minister Luizinho Faleiro, the party’s state Mahila chief, Pratima Coutinho, finished second behind independent candidate Edwin Cardozo.
Everywhere else, it was BJP-backed panels who triumphed.
“Issues were raised by political parties and NGOs, but BJP-backed candidates were elected because voters trust the party. We will win with a majority in next year’s assembly elections too,” said chief minister Pramod Sawant.
Besides the all-important CCP, BJP won Valpoi, Bicholim, Pernem, Canacona and Curchorem-Cacora. Candidates backed by the party won all 10 wards in Valpoi, all 12 wards in Canacona, nine out of 14 in Bicholim, six out of 10 in Pernem, 11 out of 15 in Curchorem and 25 out of 30 in Panaji.
“BJP won 85 wards out of 105,” said BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade. “Loss in Cuncolim (municipality) is my responsibility. We will introspect, and in 2022, BJP will win the Cuncolim assembly seat.”
In 2017 state assembly polls, Cuncolim was won by Congress candidate Clafasio Dias, who later switched over to BJP. Congress’ win in nine out of the 14 wards is largely due to the efforts of former Congress minister Joaquim Alemao and his son Yuri, who is now a strong aspirant for the party ticket.
But the chief minister suffered a personal setback on his home turf, when his nominee lost to a Congress supporter in the Sakhali municipal council bypolls. In Cuncolim, the chief minister’s brother-in-law, Videsh Dessai, tasted success.
Interestingly, all seven municipal council areas are represented by BJP in the state assembly. However, in five constituencies, the legislators had switched over from Congress and MGP in mid-2019.
Of the 12 urban local bodies, five municipal councils are yet to face election as the Supreme Court upheld the high court order cancelling the election due to irregularities in reservation of wards.
“We want to take up development work in municipal areas over the next year. Funds from the 15th Finance Commission will be given to municipalities,” said Sawant.
Political observers said it was obvious that BJP-supported panels would succeed in municipal elections as there was no strong opposition, though there was simmering resentment against the ruling party due to delimitation and reservation of wards.
“BJP has always had an edge in urban areas, and with MLAs of the same party it helps them to get comfortable victory in municipal elections,” a political observer said.
Internal party politics had come to the fore in Panaji where local BJP MLA Atanasio Monserrate aimed to win all 30 seats. His dream didn’t come to fruition as the rival, ‘We Ponjekar’, panel won four seats, which included those of former mayor Surendra Furtado and wife Ruth.
“I didn’t lose five seats (in Panaji) due to BJP rebels,” said Monserrate. “It is my fault, my sole responsibility. I did not campaign in these three wards.”
In a fiercely-fought battle in 2015, the Monserrate panel locked horns with Manohar Parrikar, then defence minister, and won 15 seats to retain control of the corporation. But with Monserrate now switching over to BJP, there was little opposition. His son Rohit was among the BJP-backed candidates who won the polls.
Like Panaji, in most municipalities, BJP-backed panels won with comfortable margins. There was some concern in Pernem where the party won six of the 10 wards, and then took the support of two independents.
“Municipal results in Pernem could be a reflection of anti-incumbency against deputy chief minister Manohar Ajgaonkar. Even then he managed to win the election. Ajgaonkar was also able to win both zilla panchayat seats in December,” another political observer said.

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Broke Swiggy guy walks 3 km to deliver food, Social media helps him find better job. Heartwarming story is viral

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Social media can be a wondrous place at times. While on most days, its ugly face is on display, on days like today, it sets examples of the power of kindness. In a social media post, a LinkedIn user shared how a delivery executive, in need of money and a better job, bagged one after the users on the platform came together to help the person out.

Priyanshi Chandel, Marketing Manager at tech company Flash, shared an incident about a Swiggy delivery agent who had come to deliver food at her residence. When she asked the late and out-of-breath delivery person, identified by her as Sahil Singh, about what happened, he told her that he had no transport and had to walk 3 km to deliver the order.

He also said that he was out of money and had nothing left to pay his landlord too. Singh told her that he was not looking for money from her but requested her to help him bag a job. He said that he had a degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering, and had worked with Byju’s and Ninjacart before. He had to move back to Jammu during the pandemic.

“I have not eaten for a week, just drinking water and tea to get by. I am not asking for anything, please if you can find me a job, I used to make 25k before, I am 30 years old, my parents are getting old and I can’t keep asking for money from them (sic),” Chandel quoted saying.

She also shared his marksheets and contact number for people to help. His details shared show that he is a 2018 BTech graduate from Mewar University, and completed his schooling from the Jammu and Kashmir state board.

After she shared the details, the comments section was filled with people who stepped up to help. While someone recharged his Yulu account so that he did not have to walk around to deliver food, someone offered a place to stay. Many offered to help him with his applications, while some offered jobs too.

Chandel, later on put an update on the post, and said that he received a job.

However, so far it is unclear what job he has received.

2023 has so far been a year of job losses, an eventual outcome of the pandemic and increased hiring by tech companies. For instance, the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam that took place in Uttar Pradesh in May saw over 55 lakh applications for Group D jobs. Numerous candidates who applied for positions such as peon, watchman, gardener had educational backgrounds like BTech, MBA, and Master’s degrees.

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Goa CM, NRI Commissioner writes to MoEF for help in safe return of Goans from Ukraine

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Panaji: Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday urged Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar to help in safe return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

Sawant tweeted “we are concerned about the Goans in Ukraine who are considering to return to India in the light of ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. I request Union Minister for External Affairs @DrSJaishankar ji for help in the safe return of Goans. I am keeping track of the situation.”

The chief minister’s tweet comes hours after Goa’s NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar wrote to the Union External Affairs ministry seeking help in return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

“Many Goans are currently residing in Ukraine due to various purposes including higher studies and due to the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, I have started receiving requests for help and assistance from them to return back to India,” Sawaikar wrote.

The Commissioner further wrote in the letter that advisories have already been issued by the Ministery of External Affairs to Indians currently in Ukraine and our Indian Mission in Kyiy is currently handling the matter.

“Striking note of urgency, the Government of India has recently asked the family members of Embassy officials in Ukraine as well as students and citizens whose stay is not vital , to leave the Eastern European nation amid it’s raising tensions with Russia,” the letter reads.

Sawaikar wrote that the Goans in Ukraine are in touch with this office as they are anxious to temporarily return till the situation normalizes.

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Election Commission announces polling dates and counting days for Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 states

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On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 States, namely, Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

While briefing the media, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra informed that the elections in the poll-bound States will commence from February 10, 2022, to March 7, 2022. Elections in the State of Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in 7 phases, followed by Manipur with 2 phases. Elections in Goa, Uttarkhand and Punjab will be conducted in a single phase.

According to the Election Commission of India, the votes will be counted on March 10, 2022. ECI informed that all physical campaigning will be ceased until January 15, 2022, in light of the rising cases of Coronavirus.

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