the goan I network
MAPUSA
While majority of Paliencar’s supporters won from Verla-Canca, Siolim-Marna, Siolim-Sodiem and Assagao panchayats, the surprise package has been Oxel Panchayat.
Former water resources minister’s close supporters “ Oxel Sarpanch, Rama Parab, Verla-Canca, sarpanch, Mohan Dhabale and Assagao, acting sarpanch, Victor D’Souza “ were all defeated.
In Verla-Canca, Paliencar’s aide and former sarpanch Milton Marques and his supporters gained majority in the nine-member panchayat.
Similarly, former sarpanch Sylvester Fernandes along with like-minded supporters were elected in Siolim-Marna Panchayat and are strongly behind the Siolim MLA.
Sodiem sarpanch Nilesh Vaigankar and five other members who were elected to the panchayat have been stoutly backed by Palayekar. The water resources minister’s supporters have also gained majority in Assagao Panchayat. Paliencar said with the election of new faces, people have given a resounding verdict for development. “Many old war horses have lost and new faces have been elected. We respect the people’s verdict. We will now work together to take Siolim forward,” he said.
In Saligao, it was a mixed bag for Housing Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar with his supporters gaining majority in Nerul Panchayat while gaining an upper hand in Guirim, Saligao and Reis Magos.
However, Salgoankar suffered reverses in Pilerne-Marra and Sangolda, where most of his supporters had to taste defeat at the hands of BJP supporters. “My full panel has won in Reis Magos and Nerul panchayats. Guirim and Sangolda was mix bag but yet my supporters will be sarpanchas in those panchayats,” Salgoankar said. He admitted that Pilerne-Marra result was a disappointment. “We basically failed in Pilerne-Marra because of split in our supporters. There were literally two groups among our supporters,” he said.
