Braganza-backed panel wins unopposed in most posts, vows transparency & development
THE WINNING COMBINATION: The newly elected Mapusa comunidade panel poses with former Mapusa chairperson Ryan Braganza on Sunday.
MAPUSA
In a significant development, former Mapusa Municipal Council chairperson Ryan Braganza’s panel was re-elected for a second term to lead the Mapusa comunidade for the triennium 2025-2028.
The election, which took place on Sunday at the comunidade hall, saw all posts being filled unopposed, except for the position of Attorney, where Dr Shivanand Gauns emerged victorious over Michael Carrasco.
A total of 428 gaunkars from various parts of Goa and Maharashtra participated in the elections to choose their new committee.
The re-elected panel includes Salvador Pinto as president, Dr Shivanand Gauns as attorney and Estevam Coutinho as treasurer. Adulf D’Souza, Raul Faria and Thomas Pinho were elected as substitute president, substitute attorney and substitute treasurer, respectively.
With his panel’s victory in the influential Mapusa Comunidade, Ryan Braganza has solidified his position as a significant figure in the town, now holding influence in all three of Mapusa’s comunidades.
Earlier, Braganza’s panel also achieved success in the Khorlim Comunidade elections, while Braganza himself was elected as the President of the Cunchelim Comunidade.
Newly re-elected president Salvador Pinto assured continued transparency in the community’s workings, stating, “This is our second term, and we promise that there will be transparency, just as we’ve done in the last three years. We will bring value back to the comunidade and ensure that Mapusa comunidade will be the first to start demolishing structures not in line with the code of the comunidade.”
Pinto emphasized the panel’s commitment to working in the best interest of the Gaunkars and improving the comunidade, building on the achievements of their first term.
Dr Shivanand Gauns, who was re-elected as attorney, reiterated the panel’s focus on transparency and vowed to continue working for the benefit of the community, ensuring that all upcoming projects receive proper approval and contribute to the comunidade’s growth.
Former Chairperson Ryan Braganza, who had supported the winning panel, expressed his gratitude to the gaunkars for their overwhelming participation in the election.
He praised the elected team as non-controversial and non-corrupt, assuring the community that they would continue to work in the best interest of Mapusa comunidade.
The election marked a significant moment for the Mapusa comunidade, as the re-elected team, backed by Braganza, aims to build on their past successes while ensuring transparency and progress for the community over the next term.
