CANACONA
The Poinguinim gram sabha was adjourned on Sunday after members refused to proceed in the absence of Sarpanch Savita Ramesh Tawadkar, insisting she be present to answer their questions.
Members rejected the explanation that Tawadkar was unavailable due to an emergency in her neighbourhood and that Deputy Sarpanch Sunil Paingamkar would chair the meeting.
They alleged she had deliberately skipped the gram sabha to avoid answering questions on three major issues listed for
discussion.
The meeting was adjourned without taking up any agenda item. Members demanded that gram sabhas be held only in the presence of the sarpanch.
Speaking to the media, Paingamkar said Tawadkar had informed the panchayat meeting on Friday that she would be unable to attend due to important work and had asked him to chair the gram sabha.
All seven other panchayat members, including the deputy sarpanch, and Panchayat Secretary Rajiv Naik Gaunkar were present.
In a video circulated on social media, Tawadkar said a woman in her neighbourhood had died after hospitalisation, and she was occupied with funeral arrangements.
She accused some members of playing politics, maintaining that the deputy sarpanch or another panch member could chair the meeting and address questions.
“I had not remained absent out of fear to answer any amount of questions. Why should I?” she said.
