PERNEM
In an unusual situation, two members of a family now head the Agarwada-Chopdem panchayat, after Sangeeta Naik was elected unopposed as deputy sarpanch. Her mother-in-law, Shilpa Naik, presently serves as sarpanch in the panchayat and, incidentally, Sangeeta had also previously served as sarpanch in the panchayat, while Shilpa had also previously served as deputy sarpanch.
During a special meeting to elect the deputy sarpanch, Sangeeta Naik was the lone candidate to file her nomination and was elected unopposed. Others present at the meeting included Sarpanch Shilpa Naik and panchas Dipali Lingudkar, Bhagirath Gaonkar, Sachin Raut, Anthony Fernandes and Hemant Chopdekar. There have been four sarpanchas during the present term of the panchayat and they are Anthony Fernandes, Sachin Raut, Hemant Chopdekar and Shilpa Naik.
There are four panch members in Agarwada village and three panch members in Chopdem village.
