MARGAO
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao retained his stranglehold over the Benaulim panchayat body after the Sarpanch, Ezlina Fernandes survived the no-confidence motion against her on Thursday.
In a day of developments, the no-confidence motion against the sarpanch fizzled out after the opposition camp suddenly realised that they were falling short of the magic figure of six members in the 11-member body to dislodge Ezlina from office.
Even though a total of six signatories to the motion in the 11-member panchayat body had signed the motion of no-confidence, the group, however, realised on Thursday that they were falling short of one vote to dislodge the sarpanch.
Sources in the know informed that the opposition group had decided to meet at a particular place before they all headed to the panchayat body for the meeting. The group, however, claimed that panch member Nilesh Keshav Prabhudesai was conspicuous by his absence and hence they decided not to go for the meeting. Nilesh, however, was not available for comment as his phone was found switched off.
Apparently buoyed by the success, the Churchill camp made a counter move against the opposition group around noon when six panchayat members, including Sarpanch Ezlina and panch member Nilesh Keshav Prabhudesai submitted a no-confidence motion in the office of Salcete Block Development Office against Deputy Sarpanch Joao Albuquerque.
Besides Sarpanch Ezlina and panch Nilesh, the no-confidence motion against the deputy sarpanch has been signed by Menino Fernandes, Vencila Fernandes, Remedios N Fernandes and David Francisco Fernandes.
Deputy Sarpanch Joao Albuquerque, who was elected only recently, was one of the signatories to the no-confidence motion against Sarpanch Ezlina, which fizzled out on Thursday morning. That the sarpanch group has now vowed to dislodge the deputy sarpanch is now evident by the fact that the group submitted a notice of no-confidence motion against Albuquerque within hours after Ezlina survived the no-trust motion.
