SANGUEM
When six of the seven panchas moved a no-confidence motion against the Uguem sarpanch, the ouster of the sarpanch should have been a foregone conclusion.
However, Social Welfare Minister and local Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai’s timely intervention late Wednesday evening managed to persuade all six panchas of Uguem panchayat to reconsider their no-confidence motion against Uguem Sarpanch Bharati Naik.
Even though all panchas “ Deputy Sarpanch Ram Phandarmisse and panchayat members Elvira Fernandes, Divya Naik, Vithal Gaonkar, Utkarsha Dessai and Marcus Pereira “ had moved a no-confidence motion against Naik, the motion was not passed as the six signatories did not attend the special meeting in the panchayat office on Friday.
Reliable sources informed The Goan that the six aggrieved panchayat members had been planning to file a no-confidence motion against Naik, about three months ago, but they were reportedly kept back by Phaldessai from going ahead with the motion.
However earlier last week, Phaldessai had gone out of station and taking advantage of his absence, the six panch members went ahead and filed the no-confidence motion, little knowing that Phaldessai would return home soon.
They filed the no-confidence motion accusing Naik of failing to take other members into confidence in discussing panchayat matters.
Sources informed that after being informed of the no-confidence motion, Phaldessai convened an urgent meeting with the six Uguem panchas for a meeting late Wednesday evening at his residence immediately on his arrival in Goa.
He persuaded the dejected panchayat members not to go ahead with the motion and assured the six panchas that he would try and resolve their differences with the sarpanch.
Phaldessai informed them that this was not the right time to go ahead with the motion and that the matter could be discussed after a few months.
The Phaldessai’s request reportedly came on account of the fast approaching Lok Sabha elections and the dethroning of the BJP-backed sarpanch would have had an adverse effect on the election campaign.
It was reportedly on the advice and assurance by Phaldessai that the six panchas stayed away from the special meeting called to discuss the motion on Friday, much to the relief of Sarpanch Bharti Naik.
