VALPOI
Assembly elections may have concluded two weeks ago, but the election fever is far from over in Sattari as preparations are already afoot for the upcoming panchayat elections in the taluka.
Incidentally, 12 seats still lie vacant in different panchayats following the resignation of 12 panchas, but given that elections to panchayats across the State are being planned in the last week of May, it is unlikely that by-polls will be conducted to fill these 12 vacant seats for such a short duration.
Sattari taluka consists of the Valpoi municipality and 12 panchayats of Sattari taluka consists of 12 panchayats of Honda, Keri, Thane-Dongurli, Morlem, Pissurlem, Bhironda, Mauxi, Nagargaon, Savarde, Cotorem, Guleli and Poriem.
While 8 panchayats fall under the Poriem constituency, four other panchayats and Valpoi municipality are included in the Valpoi constituency.
According to sources, many of the 12 panch members had been recently employed in various government posts and they had to resign from their seats in their respective panchayats.
Those panchayat members who have resigned in recent times are Sakha Sawant, Pandurang Gaonkar, Vitthal Kaskar, Shilpa Sawant, Satyawan Gaonkar, Suryakant Gaonkar, Balkrishna Sawant, Ramnath Gawde, Pallavi Gaonkar, Nidhi Gaonkar and Vitthal Gaonkar.
Sources have said aspiring candidates have begun efforts to contest the vacant seats and have already begun meeting people in this regard.
When contacted, Sattari BDO Suryaji Rane did not confirm if by-elections will be conducted to fill the 12 vacant seats in different panchayats but added that a report has been submitted in this regard.
