MLAs, ex-MLAs take control of most panchayats: Lobo’s son elected deputy in Parra :State BJP chief Tanavde’s brother elected sarpanch of Pirna
Sarpanch elect Joseph Sequeira along with the other panchayat members takes charge of the affairs of Calangute village.
MAPUSA
Local MLAs and ex-MLAs held sway on who will head the panchayats even as 29 sarpanchas and deputies were elected unopposed while elections were held to elect four sarpanchas in Bardez.
Elections were held to elect sarpanchas and deputy sarpanchas in Ucassaim, Nachinola, Siolim-Sodiem and Sangolda village panchayats.
In three panchayats – Anjuna-Caisua, Salvador-do-Mundo and Sirsaim – Independent candidates took charge of the affairs of the village.
While Daniel Lobo son of MLA couple Michael and Delilah was elected at the deputy sarpanch of Parra, Sandeep Shet brother of State BJP President, Sadanand Shet Tanavde was elected as the sarpanch of Pirna village.
As expected, Joseph Sequeira was elected unopposed as the sarpanch of Calangute after a gap of five years while Geeta Parab was also elected unopposed as his deputy. Sequeira said that he had the backing of all the 11 panchayat members in the coastal village.
“Although the winning group belongs to me, you can consider this as the BJP-backed panel,” Sequeira said to a query from journalists.
However, candidates backed by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo were elected unopposed to head the remaining three panchayats – Candolim, Arpora Nagoa and Parra – in Calangute constituency.
Out of the total six panchayats in Aldona constituency, local MLA Carlos Ferreira and former MLA Glenn Ticlo shared the honours as both managed to take control of three panchayats each.
While Ferreira took complete control of the Aldona panchayat which is the largest in the constituency, he also managed to take control of Pomburpa and Ucassaim panchayats.
Sarpanchas and deputies backed by Ticlo were elected in Bastora, Moira and Nachinola.
In Tivim constituency, Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar held sway in seven out of total eight panchayats with Sirsaim panchayat going to a group of Independents.
Sarpanchas backed by the minister were elected in Tivim, Assonora, Colvale, Nadora, Revora, Camurlim and Pirna.
Similarly, in Porvorim constituency, sarpancheas backed by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte were elected unopposed in Penha-de-Franca and Socorro panchayats while the Salvador-do-Mundo panchayat went to an Independent group.
Candidates backed by Siolim MLA, Delilah Lobo took control of five out of six panchayats – Siolim-Marna, Siolim-Sodiem, Oxel, Assagao and Verla-Canca – in the constituency with only Anjuna-Caisua panchayat going to the Independents.
In Saligao constituency, local MLA, Kedar Naik and former MLA, Jayesh Salgoankar shared the spoils with each bagging three panchayats each.
While sarpanchas backed by Naik were elected in Nerul, Reis-Magos and Pilerne-Marra, Salgoankar claimed taking control of Saligao, Guirim and Sangolda panchayats.
