MAPUSA
In a tactical move and in bid to wrest the initiative from the opposition camp in the Siolim-Marna Deputy Sarpanch William Fernandes has resigned and will now stake claim for the post of the village sarpanch.
Sarpanch Sharmila Vernekar had resigned on Tuesday after majority of the panchayat members moved a no-confidence motion against her.
Trying to defend his decision to quit, Fernandes informed that local MLA Delilah Lobo had already decided the term and the pecking order of who will be the sarpanch in the village.
“As decided, I was supposed to be the next sarpanch after Vernekar. Since the sarpanch resigned I had to resign so that I can contest the election for the post of sarpanch. I am a senior member having been elected for the second term. More importantly, it is my turn to head the panchayat. I am confident all the panchayat members will support me,” Fernandes said.
Both Vernekar and Fernandes are affiliated to the panel backed by Siolim MLA, Delilah Lobo.
The instability bug struck the Siolim-Marna panchayat after five members of the nine-member panchayat brought a no-trust motion against the sarpanch citing her inability to act against illegal constructions in the village.
Sources informed that the resignation of the deputy sarpanch was a tactical move to appeal to the conscience of the three members of the MLA’s camp who have crossed over.
“We will have to see whether the gamble will pay off,” a source said.
Meanwhile, Sharmila Vernekar, who resigned as sarpanch, challenged her detractors to prove the allegations made against her.
“They have alleged that I have been encouraging illegal constructions in the village. I challenge them to provide evidence on the charges they made against me,” Vernekar said.
