Election by secret ballot held in Chicalim

Counting and result to be declared today in the court

THE GOAN NETWORK

VASCO

The Chicalim panchayat witnessed an unusual election on Tuesday, when a secret ballot was ordered to be conducted for a new sarpanch after a no-confidence motion was passed against Chicalim Sarpanch Mary Joao Mascarenhas.

The ballot box was subsequently sealed and will be opened in the High Court during a hearing on Wednesday.

According to observer and BDO Uday R Prabhu Dessai, soon after Mascarenhas was elected as sarpanch on February 19, other panchayat members moved a no-confidence motion against her, stating that the sarpanch did not enjoy support of the majority.

“The no-confidence motion was scheduled for Tuesday, however Mascarenhas filed a petition with the High Court against the no-confidence motion. The High Court directed the panchayat to table the motion and conduct the election through secret ballot. The panchayat was also asked to seal the ballot box to be opened in the High Court during the hearing on Wednesday and declare the result,” said Dessai.

“According to directions of the High Court, the motion was tabled during the meeting and discussions were held, after which the election for the new sarpanch was conducted through secret ballot.”

“This is the first time that the High Court has directed the panchayat to conduct elections through secret ballot and the ballot box is to be opened in the court for counting and declaring the result.”

Sources in the panchayat said the court order will act as a deterrent to others when someone thinks of moving no-confidence against the sarpanch, within few hours of getting elected.

Speaking to The Goan, Mascarenhas said she was forced to approach the High Court, as other panchas did not give her sufficient time to prove her capabilities.

“I was a sarpanch earlier and during my tenure I took every pancha into confidence to carry out the betterment of the village panchayat,” she said.