MARGAO
With the effective strength of the seven-member Carmona village panchayat reduced to five, and Sarpanch Savita Mascarenhas tendering her resignation, the focus of attention is now shifted to the formation of a new body.
Sources are not ruling out the possibility of three members Sandra Fernandes, deputy Sarpanch Vialona Fernandes and ex-Sarpanch Winston Dias coming together to form the new body.
“In a five-member body, three members are enough to form a new body. But we want all the members to join hands to form the new body in the interest of the village in the event incumbent Sarpanch Savita does not withdraw
her resignation,” Sandra told The Goan.
A former sarpanch, Sandra is affiliated to Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao’s group. It remains to be seen how the Benaulim MLA plays his role in Carmona in the formation of the new panchayat body.
Says Churchill: “Sandra has briefed me on the developments in Carmona. Let them take a call,” he said.
When it was pointed out that the Carmona panchayat body was never with him since the last panchayat poll, Churchill said, “Members of the panchayat had been approaching me for taking up development works in recent times.”
With one clear vacancy in the panchayat following the demise of panch member Josinho Mendes, questions are being raised in Carmona whether the government will fill up the vacant post first or would first hold election for a new sarpanch if Savita does not withdraw her resignation within the stipulated date.
Sources say the provisions of the Goa Panchayati Raj Act mandate the Director of Panchayats to fill up the vacant post of sarpanch within two months.
In the event Savita’s resignation is finally accepted after the expiry of 10 days from the date of resignation, it remains to be seen whether the director would first fill the vacant post of sarpanch or will go for election to fill up the vacancies left behind.
