Kudalkar elected Chicalim sarpanch
THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Prajoti Kudalkar was on Monday elected sarpanch of the 11-member Chicalim panchayat.
With this election, Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho has managed to effectively wrest control of the Chicalim panchayat.
Kudalkar, who was fielded by the Godinho panel defeated Marie Mascarenhas by 6 votes to 5. Speaking to media persons, Kudalkar said her election to the post of sarpanch was possible due to Godinho's support and she will work for the development of Chicalim village.
Godinho, who was present, congratulated Kudalkar on being elected.
Speaking to the media, Godinho said it was very shameful that some Chicalim panchas had gone astray by leaving his panel, due to which Chicalim village has suffered on the developmental front.
Godinho added his panel will dedicate itself for the upliftment and development of Chicalim.
“I personally along with sarpanch and deputy sarpanch will visit all the wards and conduct grievance meeting to know their problems and expectations and work towards fulfilling it,” he said.
It may be recalled that on February 19, the opposition panchas had moved a no-confidence motion against Mary Mascarenhas, barely three hours after she was elected sarpanch.
Not satisfied with the no-confidence motion, Mascarenhas moved the high court to conduct the election through secret ballot. The high court directed the panchayat to conduct the election through secret ballot and accordingly BDO Mormugao Uday R Prabhudesai conducted the election under police protection on March 1. The counting had to be kept on hold, as the court hearing was not completed.
After completing the high court hearing on March 10, the counting of votes was taken up in the presence of strong police force and Mascarnehas was voted out of the office by six votes.
