P’yat secy accused of misconduct with elected members in Tivim

SHOWDOWN AT TIVIM P’YAT: Acting Sarpanch Akshada Kalangutkar, flanked by fellow panchayat members, addresses the media from her cabin on Friday evening.

MAPUSA

The Tivim Panchayat on Friday levelled serious allegations against its panchayat secretary, Dhiraj Govekar, accusing him of acting in a high-handed and abusive manner, particularly targeting elected members of the ruling group who are not aligned with the local MLA and Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar.  

Addressing a press conference, Acting Sarpanch Akshada Kalangutkar said that Govekar had repeatedly misbehaved with panchayat members, harassed office staff and deliberately delayed panchayat resolutions and development works. She alleged that the secretary was openly biased and using his position to stall the functioning of the panchayat.

Kalangutkar said the latest incident occurred on Thursday when Govekar allegedly barged into her cabin and verbally abused former sarpanch Venkatesh Shirodkar and panchayat member Nilesh Narvekar, who were waiting for her.

“He rudely told them to get out and said they had no right to sit in the cabin. This is nothing but an abuse of power. How can a secretary speak like this to elected representatives?” she questioned.

She further alleged that Govekar often threatens staff members and even instructs them not to cooperate with ruling panchayat members. “When staff refuse to follow his unlawful directions, he resorts to abusing them as well,” Kalangutkar added.

Former sarpanch Venkatesh Shirodkar termed the secretary’s behaviour as “dadagiri”, stating that Govekar even threatened to call the police when they refused to vacate the cabin.  

Panchayat member Shivdas Kambli condemned the secretary’s conduct and described Thursday’s incident as a “murder of democracy”.

The ruling group alleged that Govekar’s behaviour is politically motivated and claimed he was acting at the behest of Minister Nilkant Halarnkar.  

“Since we are not aligned with the MLA, the secretary is taking political revenge. Most of our development files have been blocked for the last three years,” Kalangutkar said.  

A majority of panchayat members have urged the government to intervene immediately and replace Govekar.