the goan I network
MARGAO
Prominent amongst the couples who made it to the Panchayat body are sitting Benaulim deputy Sarpanch Xavier Pereira and wife Delia. Similarly, Benaulim sitting Panch David Fernandes and wife Vencilia have made it to the panchayat against a spirited campaign by their political opponents. That the Pereira and Fernandes family have come up trumps assumes significance as their presence in the election fray had generated lot of interest in the village since the post of Sarpanch for the Benaulim Panchayat is reserved for women this time round.
At Loutolim, the son and daughter-in-law of former Loutolim Sarpanch J T Vaz “ Tony and Cecilia won from two wards. A beaming Tony told the media that there was a strong attempt made by their opponents to run them down by raking up the family raj politics, but hastened to add that people of Loutolim gave them a befitting reply. “They did rake up family raj to pin us down, but the people replied them saying that this is not family raj, but Panchayat Raj politics”, Tony said in a lighter vein.
Sitting Navelim panch Santarita Coelho not only retained his seat, but got his wife Esmeraldina in the Navelim Panchayat body this time round.
Husband and wives, who could not make it to the panchayat bodies this time round, were sitting Chinchinim Panchas, Cosntancio and wife Joselyn. The husband-wife duo apparently could not withstand an united campaign by their political opponents, who reportedly joined hands to stop them from retaining their seats.
Similarly, attempt made by the husband-wife duo of Alex and Maria Pereira to enter the Majorda Panchayat came to naught when they were defeated in the husting. Alex, sources said, lost the election by a whisker.
Sitting Rachol Sarpanch Joseph Vaz made it to the Panchayat for the sixth time in a row, but his attempt to bring in wife Nancia was foiled by the electorate. Nancia, who was widely expected to don the mantle of Sarpanch in the event she and her husband’s panel won the election, lost the battle by mere two votes.
At Aquem-Baixo, there was mixed result for former Aquem-Baixo Sarpanch Inacio Dias. While he lost the election, wife Pacencia made it to the Panchayat body from ward No 5. Similarly, sitting Panch Floriano Fernandes bite the dust in the election, but his wife Sofia got elected to the Panchayat body.
At Raia, former Sarpanch Nazareth Gomes failed in his comeback bid, but wife Esmeralda managed to win the seat to make it to the Panchayat body. At Guirdolim, former Sarpanch Milagres de Chandor and his wife lost the election.
