MARGAO
New faces will preside over the majority of the panchayats in Salcete taluka even as around one-third of former sarpanchas have made a comeback to the saddle again.
In the elections for the post of sarpanchas and their deputies on Monday, many have been elected unopposed, while polls were held at some of the panchayats to resolve the leadership issue. A couple of surprises were in store too as in the case of Chinchinim, where a candidate from the rival group made it to the post of deputy sarpanch.
Former sarpanchas who have returned to the saddle include Joseph Vaz (Rachol), Basil Fernandes (Camorlim), Paul Pereira (Navelim), Veena Cardozo (Velim), Valentino Barretto (Chinchinim), Sonia Fernandes (Guirdolim), Agnelo D’Costa (Macazana), Herculano Niasso (Davorlim), Suzie Fernandes (Colva), Seema Shanke (Seraulim).
A couple of deputy sarpanchas who have now made it to the post of sarpanch include Freda D’Sa (Nuvem) and Anthony Fernandes (Betalbatim).
Sitting and former sarpanchas, who have now settled for the post of deputies, are Leslie Dourado (Seraulim), Estevan Goes (Telaulim), Deepak Kharangate (Paroda) and Roland Fernandes (Varca) since the post of sarpanch was reserved for women.
A host of new faces, including first-time panchas, who have made it to the post of sarpanch include seaman-turned-politician Dixon Vaz (Cavelossim), Salesiana Fernandes (Varca), Avinash Sardesai (Aquem Baixo), Mubeena Faniband (Rumdamol), Joana Fernandes (Loutolim) and Celina Torcato (Ambelim).
Many were elected to the hot seats unopposed via seat-sharing arrangements amongst the aspirants. However, elections had to be resorted to decide the fate of a couple of panchayats including Velim, Chinchinim, Seraulim, Navelim etc, where the elections ended in a close contest.
Amongst the prominent winners were wives of former MLAs of the Nuvem constituency. Frida D’Sa, wife of ex-Nuvem MLA Wilfred has made it to the post of sarpanch of Nuvem and Viola Pacheco, wife of ex-MLA Mickky Pacheco is the new deputy sarpanch of Betalbatim.
