New mantra: Power-sharing via rotation in Salcete

Consensus for rotation of the chair amongst claimants after a fixed tenure at several panchayats

THE GOAN NETWORK | AUGUST 19, 2022, 12:47 AM IST
New mantra: Power-sharing via rotation in Salcete

MARGAO
Power-sharing via rotation of the hot seat is a mantra that seems to have come in handy for newly-elected grassroot panchayat members to overcome leadership issues at several panchayat bodies across Salcete.  

Indeed, the time-tested rotation of the chair amongst the claimants has become a norm than an exception at most of the panchayat bodies ahead of the D-Day on August 22 when the newly-elected members will meet to elect the new village heads and their deputies.  

With the panchayat polls not fought on party lines and with most of the members elected to the bodies as individuals rather than on panels, rotation of the chair amongst the claimants after a fixed tenure seems to be the catchword at the grassroot bodies.  

Rotation of the chair, sources said, is being resorted to for another reason – to save the panchayat body from the game of musical chairs, where no confidence motions become a norm than an exception and sarpanchas come and go every few months.  

In fact, newly-elected members of many panchayats in Salcete have capped power-sharing via the rotation system, while others are still burning midnight oil to forge consensus over the choice of candidates for the coveted posts.  

Take the case of the Camurlim panchayat. Sitting Sarpanch Basil Fernandes is bracing up to play yet another innings as the village sarpanch. He, however, was candid enough admitting that the post of sarpanch will be shared with members of his panel.  

At Paroda village, where five members, including sitting Sarpanch Deepak Kharangante has been elected to the panchayat, he was forthright in saying the post of women will be shared amongst the women members of the panel.  

With no panel or group getting a clear majority at the 11-member Sao Jose de Areal Panchayat, the post of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch is likely to be rotated amongst the women members during the five-year term.  

The Rumdamol-Davorlim panchayat is another case in point. The five-member group of members have decided to rotate the post of sarpanch amongst the two women members. The post of deputy sarpanch will also be rotated.  

At Telaulim panchayat, sitting Sarpanch Estevan Goes will play yet another innings at the panchayat body, but as the village deputy sarpanch. Given that the post of sarpanch is reserved for women, Estevan pointed out that the post would be rotated amongst the women members for a fixed tenure.  

The 11-member village panchayat of Chinchinim seems also to be heading for power-sharing amongst the members. With nine out of the 11 newly-elected members are new members, with the remaining two are former sarpanchas, and with no group having the required numbers on its own to form the panchayat, sources do not rule out the possibility of the members rotating the chair amongst the experienced and the new faces to rule the panchayat body.  

Two groups are vying for honours at the 11-member Navelim village panchayat. Both the groups have claimed to have the required numbers to form the panchayat. The BJP has opened its account in Navelim for the first time and is reported to be enjoying the support of two first-time members. Hectic behind the scene activity is underway in Navelim not just to form the panchayat, but how to go about rotating the chair amongst a host of claimants.  

Sources in the know pointed out that a group of newly-elected panchayat members of Raia panchayat have mustered the numbers in the 11-member panchayat body, but the question over who amongst the members will first occupy the hot seat remains unanswered till date.  

After Varca, Benaulim also to form ‘independent’ p’yat  

MARGAO: After Varca, wherein a group of newly-elected members have opted to form a “People’s Panchayat”, neighbouring Benaulim seems heading towards forming an “independent” panchayat body.  

Contender for the post of Benaulim Sarpanch, Xavier Pereira said efforts are underway to form the panchayat independent from politicians and political parties.  

He said the majority of the like-minded members, who are all Benaulikars, have decided to form the panchayat body with no allegiance to any politician or political party.  

Conceding that he would file his nomination paper for the post of sarpanch, Xavier exuded confidence of winning the election with the support of the members. “We had all contested the polls without any party banner or on panels. Hence, efforts are underway to form an Independent panchayat body,” he said.  

Xavier was elected unopposed to the panchayat, while wife Diella, an ex-sarpanch, has also made it to the Benaulim panchayat. The post of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch of Benaulim panchayat is in the general category.  

Soon after the declaration of results, a six-member group of newly-elected members of Varca panchayat had decided to form a “people’s panchayat”. The group had proposed to field Salesiana (Selu) Fernandes for the post of sarpanch and former sarpanch Roland Domingo Fernandes for the post of deputy sarpanch. The six-member group comprises former sarpanch Crosly Charlton Lourenco, Flavia Baretto, Solon Furtado, Baptisto Fernandes, Salesiana Fernandes and Roland Fernandes.  


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