MARGAO
Just three months after the panchayat polls in August last elected new bodies to rule for the next five years, winds of political instability and change have started blowing in the 11-member Raia local body.
Raia panchayat has become Saxtti’s first local body to face a no-trust motion against sarpanch Judas Quadros after six out of the 11 members have tabled a no-confidence motion against him.
What’s significant to note is that Judas was elected to the post of sarpanch just three months ago with a 6-5 margin, defeating former sarpanch Xavier Fernandes by one vote. Three months down the lane, Judas is facing a no-confidence motion after one of the ruling group members Peter Quadros puts his signature on the motion.
Sarpanch Judas told The Goan that he is shocked and surprised over the no-trust motion.
He only said he would face the no-trust motion.
“I have no idea why the six members have tabled the no-trust motion against me. I will come to the people and explain what I have done during my short stint in office,” he added.
The six-member group of signatories, on the other hand, has charged Judas for not taking the members into confidence in the administrative and development works. They further charged the sarpanch for exercising the powers not expressly vested in him as sarpanch by or under the Act, thereby abusing his powers as sarpanch.
The six signatories to the motion include Mario D’Souza, Manuel Rodrigues, Antonio Xavier Fernandes, Queeney D’Cunha e D’Costa, Peter Quadros and Miguelina De Souza.
A copy of the no-trust motion was entered into the office of the Salcete Block Development office on Friday. An official attached to the Salcete BDO office informed that this is the first no-confidence motion notice by the office from the panchayats in Salcete after the August 2022 panchayat polls.
