the goan I network
MAPUSA
Less than three months after he was sworn in, Candolim Sarpanch Fermino Fernandes has resigned indicating that all is not well within the ruling group in the beach village.
Fermino Fernandes was elected sarpanch of Candolim in the last week of July after the previous sarpanch Blaize Fernandes resigned as per a mutual agreement between members of the panchayat.
The sudden decision of Fermino to quit has raised eyebrows in the political circles as he was supposed to be in office for one year as per the verbal understanding.
Sources informed that Fermino had differences with former sarpanch Blaize, who has the support of maximum number of panch members.
Former sarpanch Blaize Fernandes confirmed that Fermino had resigned around four days back and a new sarpanch would be elected after a period of 10 days.
“He has some health issues,” Blaize said when asked for the sudden resignation of the sarpanch.
The 11-member panchayat owes allegiance to Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and most decisions in the village are taken on his instructions.
Locals in the know said that recently during the preparation of the Coastal Zone Management Plan, Fermino Fernandes initially appeared to back the locals while forming the map but later changed his stance after coming under pressure from other panch members.
Fermino who first became sarpanch in his previous term was responsible for forming the River Princess Hatao Manch to launch an agitation for the removal of the cargo ship that was grounded off Candolim beach in 2000.
