PORVORIM
After having stepped down four months ago, Reema Gadekar has been re-elected unopposed as the new sarpanch of Guirim panchayat.
The sarpanch’s post had fallen vacant after Gadekar had resigned on July 6 and the Guirim panchayat had been functioning without a sarpanch since the last four months.
The Directorate of Panchayat (DoP) had convened two meetings August 4 and September 7 to elect a new sarpanch, but a panch claimed that elections were postponed both times on flimsy grounds.
According to Guirim Panch Fondu Naik, Gadekar’s resignation letter was received by the DoP on July 6 and when Gadekar did not withdraw her registration till July 15, she was deemed to have resigned from the post with effect from July 16.
Deputy Sarpanch Babaji Gadekar began performing duties as acting sarpanch,” said Naik.
“The DoP had convened the election on August 4, but the meeting was postponed as the ruling group could not finalise the candidate for the post of sarpanch, since the post is reserved for women.”
“The DoP then scheduled the election on September 7, but panch members Gabriel Fernandes and Kalpesh Naik requested the DoP to postpone the election as they are not well.”
“Accordingly, the DoP issued a letter on September 6 informing members that the election had been postponed to a further date. This is nothing but mockery of democracy as rules in force stipulate that the new sarpanch should be elected within 60 days from the resignation of a sarpanch,” Naik added.
The DoP then convened a third meeting on November 9 and seven members, Dy Sarpanch Babaji Gadekar, Sunny Nanodkar, Kalpesh Naik, Reema Gadekar, Nirupa Salgaonkar, Gabriel Fernandes and Fondu Naik were present at the meeting.
Two panch members, Chaitali Morajkar and Prajyot Kandolkar, did not attend the meeting.
The candidature of Gadekar was proposed by Sunny Nanodkar and seconded by Kalpesh Naik. Since she was the only candidate to the post, the presiding officer Shirish Tari declared Gadekar as elected unopposed. Tari was assisted by Panchayat secretary O Walles.
Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar congratulated Gadekar on her re-election and assured full support in development activities of Guirim panchayat.
Later speaking to reporters, Fondu Naik questioned Gadekar’s decision to resign on July 6 and then get re-elected on November 9.
“If Gadekar wanted to continue as sarpanch, what was the need of her resignation in July? This farce has wasted the precious time of the panchayat and the block development office,” he said.
