MARGAO
The saffron flag once again flew high atop the South Goa Zilla Panchayat as Suvarna Tendulkar assumed charge as the Chairperson of the district panchayat body and promised to pursue long -pending devolution of powers and functions to the ZPs. Khushali Velip was elected as the Vice-chairperson.
Both Suvarna and Khushali were elected unopposed.
Speaking after Chief Executive Officer Triveni Velip handed over the certificates to the newly-elected Chairperson and Vice-chairperson, Tendulkar said though powers to the district panchayat bodies was needed, she reminded that the government had last time given additional funds to the Zilla Panchayats for development.
“Because of the development carried out with the additional funds, people reposed their faith in the Zilla Panchayats and elected us again,” she said.
When her attention was drawn to the government’s promise of providing additional funds when Zilla members are seeking powers, Tendulkar said the newly-elected members have faith that the government will devolve powers and functions to the district panchayat bodies.
While the election result has given the BJP a clear majority, with the party on its own winning as many as 14 seats in the 24-member body, party members Ulhas Tuemkar and Anita Thorat have underlined the need to take along all the members to take the Zilla Panchayat forward by leaving behind their political differences.
Two-time ZP Member Ulhas said though the newly-elected members hail from different political backgrounds, they all should join together by leaving behind their differences to usher in the development of the district.
Sancoale ZP member, Anita Thorat, who was elected unopposed in the election, said all the members should consider themselves as one family and highlighted the need to walk the path together by leaving behind all differences.
Rivona ZP member Suresh Kepemkar sought the support of officers and staff of the Zilla Panchayats.
