Borim gets third sarpanch in four months
THE GOAN NETWORK
PONDA
Barely two days after losing grip over Shiroda Panchayat, Shiroda MLA and Industries Minister Mahadev Naik managed to retain control over Borim panchayat when his preferred candidate, Deepali Naik, was elected unopposed as sarpanch on Friday.
It has been a game of musical chairs for the sarpanch's post in Borim panchayat, as Deepali Naik is the third sarpanch to have been elected in four months, following two ousters and two elections.
Jyoti Naik was first evicted as sarpanch through a no-confidence motion on May 16, with Constancio Luis and Deepali Naik in the fray to replace her. Though both Luis and Deepali Naik were from the ‘group’ owing allegiance to Industries Minister Mahadev Naik, two rebels had helped Luis to win the elections on July 14.
But a few days later, Luis was ousted as sarpanch on July 25, and this paved the way for the minister's candidate, Deepali Naik, to be elected as sarpanch.
On Friday, Jyoti Naik, Dinesh Raikar and Costancio Luis remained absent for the special meeting convened to elect the sarpanch, enabling Deepali Naik to win unopposed. Six panch members, including Deepali, were present.
Swapnil Nagueshkar from the Block Development Office was the presiding officer and he was assisted by Panchayat Secretary Prasad Naik.
Commenting on the Borim sarpanch's election on Friday, Shiroda BJP Block president Suraj Naik described it as a victory of BJP in Borim Panchayat. Efforts to contact Mahadev Naik were futile as he did not respond to calls.
Earlier on Wednesday, the BJP had suffered a setback in Shiroda after eight panch members went against Mahadev Naik and re-elected Sandesh Prabhudesai as their sarpanch.
Suraj Naik, however, sought to downplay the isue. “Shiroda panchayat was never in the hold of BJP and yet, Mahadev Naik won from Shiroda constituency in 2007 and 2012 without the support of Shiroda panchayat,” he said.
