Team Goemkarponn
CORTALIM: Several women’s groups from Cortalim and Velsao gathered in large numbers on Friday evening to extend their support to Merciana Vas, wife of Cortalim MLA Anton Vas, and urged her to contest the upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections from the Cortalim constituency as an independent candidate.
The meeting, held in Velsao, saw the participation of women representing various wards and panchayat areas who collectively invited Merciana Vas and MLA Anton Vas to attend the gathering. The groups recalled Merciana’s tenure as the ZP member of Cortalim, a position she assumed after winning the by-election that followed Anton Vas’s election as MLA.
Addressing the gathering, the women leaders reminded that they had played a decisive role in electing Anton Vas with a record-breaking margin during the previous ZP elections — the highest margin victory registered in Goa at the time. They said the community’s support for the Vas family remained strong because of their consistent involvement in grassroots issues.
One of the participants said the Vas family had always worked closely with farmers, fishermen and various local communities through bodies such as the Cortalim Farmers Club, Cortalim Urban Co-operative Bank, Cortalim Dairy Co-operative Society and other cooperatives. She highlighted that both Anton Vas and Merciana were known for their accessibility and humility.
“Our MLA Anton Vas is always available and very down to earth, and so is Merciana,” she said. “Even though she entered the ZP through a by-election, she took up development works across the panchayats and also extended support by providing chairs, benches, generators and even mobile morgues. We are determined to elect her again with a huge margin.”
Speaking at the event, Merciana Vas said she had completed around 33 development works worth ₹2.35 crore, utilising the funds allotted to her and supplementing them with 15th Finance and other available funds to ensure more projects were completed. “Earlier I was elected based on my husband’s work. Today, people have seen my work as well and have asked me to contest. I am confident they will support me and ensure my victory,” she said.
Cortalim MLA Anton Vas also addressed the gathering and thanked the women for their overwhelming support.
