the goan I network
MARGAO
Amid the Covid-19 lockdown, the Cuncolim Municipal Council is set to create history. With Succorina Coutinho all set to get elected unopposed as the next chairperson of the B-class municipality, six women members of the 12-member civic body hold the unique distinction of heading the civic body in a single term.
In plain terms, all the women councillors will end their tenure on a high note as their names will find a mention in the record books of the civic body, having occupied the coveted seat during their tenure.
Thursday saw the eight-member group of councillors accompanying Succorina Coutinho to the office of the CMC Chief Officer to file her nomination papers. As expected, the CO Violet Gomes received Succorina’s lone nomination paper for the post, left vacant by the resignation of outgoing Chairperson Panzy Coutinho as per an understanding among the eight-member ruling group.
That the CO received Succorina’s lone nomination paper shows her election is now a foregone conclusion. The election scheduled on Thursday for the vacant post will now be a mere formality to be conducted by the Presiding Officer Ajit Panchwadkar.
The decision to give all the women councillors a chance to occupy the hot seat was taken by the eight-member ruling group.
After the post was initially held by Lavita Mascarenhas (twice) and Polita Carneiro, it was later decided by the eight-member group that the remaining four women should also enjoy the privilege of holding the reigns of office.
Hence, the group decided to rotate the chair among themselves, with a condition that each of the women will occupy the post for a period of three months. And, they all stuck to the agreement, beginning with Anjela Luis Painginkar, Kiran Naik and Panzy Coutinho, as they all stepped down from office after the expiry of their term.
Sources in the ruling group informed that the decision to rotate the coveted post has not only helped the women to hold the reigns of office, but ensure political stability in the civic body.
Many a question, however, is being raised in Cuncolim circles whether the arrangement of sharing the post amongst all the women members have helped the general public at large or has only benefitted the councillors to have their names in the record books.
