VASCO
Nine of the 11 panch members in the Sancoale Panchayat moved a no-confidence motion against Sarpanch Ramakant Borkar on Tuesday morning.
It was a major embarrassment for Borkar as virtually the entire panchayat lost its confidence in him and his wife, Sunita, who was the only panch left out of the no-confidence motion.
This development has changed the political equation in Cortalim constituency since Sancoale village holds a major vote share in the constituency.
Panch members Girish Pillai, Tulshidas Naik, Kavita Kamal, Narayan Naik, Arish Kadar, Govind Lamani, Nandini Desai, Succorina Vales and Satish Padwalkar submitted the no-confidence motion before the Mormugao BDO Prasiddh Naik.
They have accused Sarpanch Ramakant Borkar of failing to take other panch members into confidence in the decision-making process and for failing to act on illegal construction activity in the village.
A special meeting to discuss and decide on the no-confidence motion has been convened in the Sancoale Panchayat office on October 12 at 10 am.
The no-confidence motion has left many surprised as only a few days ago, Sarpanch Ramakant Borkar and all panch members were present to inaugurate the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) of Sancoale Panchayat in Zuarinagar in the presence of Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho.
While the nine panchas are all supporters of BJP, they have mixed loyalties as one panch is Cortalim BJP Block President Narayan Naik and about four panchas each are supporters of Saldanha and Godinho.
Though there had been friction between panch members of both groups, they came together to move a no-confidence motion against Borkar and this unusual unity has surprised many people in Sancoale.
The no-confidence motion barely a few months ahead of the assembly polls has also raised questions over the political future of Ramakant Borkar, especially since there were rumours that he was one of the aspirants for the BJP ticket from the Cortalim constituency.
