the goan I network
PERNEM
According to sources, the new MLAs would try and wrest control of the panchayats to establish their hold in their respective areas, while the losing candidates at the Assembly elections would want to prove otherwise.
There are nine panchayats in Mandrem constituency and 11 in Pernem constituency. Keri-Tiracol, Palyem, Arambol, Mandrem, Morjim, Agarwaddo,
Parsem, Tuem and Virnoda panchayats are in Mandrem constituency, while Korgao, Nhaibag-Poraskade, Varkhand-Nagzar, Mopa-Ugvem, Torsem, Chandel-Hansapur, Ibrampur, Alorna-Talorna, Kasarvane and Dhargal in Pernem constituency.
In the last panchayat elections, majority of the panchayats in Pernem taluka, except for 2-3 panchayats, were backed by BJP and controlled by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Panchayat Minister Rajendra Arlekar in their respective constituencies.
While the panchayats which were backed by the BJP government saw development, other panchayats, which were the rivals for BJP government, largely remained backward.
“Most of the panchayats in Pernem taluka have been plagued by musical chairs. The panchas are elected as sarpanch or deputy sarpanch in a mutual agreement among the ruling panchas,
but hurdles are created for developmental works when the sarpanchas are voted out frequently,” remarked a source.
Given the limited revenue generated by the panchayats, much of the funds are dependent on the government.
Now, Parsekar and Arlekar as well as their rivals, Dayanand Sopte and Babu Azgaonkar, have already begun strategies to elect their panel for the upcoming panchayat elections.
When contacted, Tuem Sarpanch Prajkta Kannai said: “The panchayat election will get a boost after the declaration of results of the assembly elections.”
“I am confident of my victory in the panchayat elections, as I have
undertaken all-round development of the panchayat area,” he added.
Morjim Sarpanch Nilesh Shetgaonkar admitted that the upcoming panchayat elections won’t be so easy, with the involvement of various political parties.
“If the government supports the panchayats, it will help to undertake developmental works,” he added.
Former Morjim sarpanch Dhanjay Shetgaonkar said he would work to undertake development with cooperation from the new government.
“I contested the panchayat election for the last two consecutive terms, but now my ward is r
eserved for women. My wife will contest from this ward and if possible, I will contest from some other ward,” he said.
