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CANACONA
Completing six months as chairperson of Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) may not be of much significance, but it has generated some discussion in the town as Chaya Komarpant is yet to hand over the post to the next woman councillor, as part of a mutual agreement among ruling councillors.
Komarpant completed her 6-month “term” as CMC chairperson on November 30 after she was elected unanimously on May 30 and according to an agreement with the ruling councillors, she was to have resigned to allow Neetu Dessai to serve as chairperson for the remaining term of the current council.
The post of chairperson is reserved for women and there are four women councillors in the 10-member council.
So far, three of the women councillors have served as chairpersons after Kindlem’s councillor Prarthana Naik Gaonkar was the first to occupy the post.
Prarthana served for about 3 years, when the ruling group owning allegiance to the BJP collapsed and the new group also pledged its support to the BJP government.
Rajbag-Tari Councillor Samita Dhuri was then elected chairperson about three months and then handed over charge to Chaya Komarpant on May 30.
Komarpant was to have stepped down on November 23, to make her resignation effective on November 30, or was expected to submit her resignation latest by Friday, as part of the agreement, to make way for Bhagatwada Councillor Neetu Dessai to serve as chairperson.
While virtually all councillors claim to be supporting the BJP, sources said Prarthana Naik Gaonkar has stayed away from the other nine councillors after she was forced to step down as chairperson 9 months ago.
Sources also claimed that some internal issues among the group is believed to have prompted Komarpant to delay her resignation.
When contacted, Komarpant said she would submit her resignation but did not specify the day when she would do so.
“There are three holidays and so, I may submit my resignation later, but I can’t say when. No work is taking place in this council, so what is the point in continuing (in my post),” replied Komarpant.
“There are elements who won’t allow others to do something nor will they do it themselves,” said Komarpant, but declined to divulge more details.
One ruling group councillor, however, claimed that Komarpant has already submitted her resignation.
“But it has not been officially sent to the inward section and most probably, it will be officially submitted on Tuesday,” said the councillor.
When contacted, Neetu Dessai said since Komarpant is likely to submit her resignation by December 4, and given a 7-day period for Komarpant’s resignation to be effective, she would specify her stand only after December 11.
RIPE FOR CHANGE
Chaya Komarpant completed her six-month “term” as CMC chairperson on November 30 . According to an agreement with the ruling councillors, she was to have resigned to allow Neetu Dessai to serve as chairperson for the remaining term of the current council
The post of chairperson is reserved for women and there are four women councillors in the 10-member council
The understanding came into force after then Chairperson Prarthana Naik Gaonkar had to stepdown after heading the council for three years
