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CANACONA
According to the Canacona Returning Office, Ajay Pagui of Ward 1 (Saleri) and Nisha Velip of Ward 3 (Paryemoll) in Khola Panchayat and Sachin Naik of Ward 4 (Shelli) of Loliem-Polem Panchayat were elected unopposed after other candidates in the fray withdrew their nominations. Ajay Pagi is the sitting sarpanch of Khola Panchayat.
Incidentally, Khola Ward 1 and Loliem-Polem Ward 4 are OBC reserved and Khola Ward 3 is women reserved. Ramdas Babu Pujari of Ward 4 (Mahalwada) of Poinguinim Panchayat has been already elected unopposed.
The Canacona Returning Officer has also alloted voting symbols for the remaining 53 candidates contesting from seven panchayats of Canacona. The numbers of contestants in fray are Agonda (23) with only one ward having a straight fight, 3 contestants in three wards and four contestants in the remaining three wards. In Khola (21) with two candidates declared elected unopposed, three wards will witness a straight fight, three will have a three-cornered fight and one ward will have four contestants in remaining 7 wards. Cotigao (21) will witness a straight fight in four wards, one will have three contestants and five each candidates will fight it out in two wards.
In Gaongongrim (25), five wards will have straight fight, three each candidates in two different wards, four candidates in one ward and five in one ward.
In Loliem-Polem (31), there will be a straight fight in Ward IX, where sitting sarpanch Bhushan Prabhugaonkar is seeking re-election, three contestants in two wards, four in three wards, five in two wards. Ward IV candidate was elected unopposed.
In Poinguinim (35), with one candidate from Ward 4 elected unopposed, there is no straight fight, with a maximum of six candidates to fight it out in one ward, five in two wards, four in three wards and three candidates in two wards. In Shristhal (21), there will be a straight fight in two wards, three will contest in three wards and remaining two to witness a four-cornered fight.
PERNEM: Three candidates were elected unopposed, while 72 candidates withdrew their nominations for panchayat elections in Pernem taluka on Monday.
A total of 461 candidates will contest the panchayat election in 17 panchayats of Pernem taluka. During the scrutiny of nominations, Nitin Chopdekar from Chopdem, Kavita Harijan from Tuem and Pallavi Rawool from Mopa were elected unopposed, as no other nomination was filed from their respective wards.
On Monday, Bharat Gawade was elected unopposed from Ward 1 of Virnoda Panchayat after two rivals withdrew their nominations, while Pradeep Kambli was elected unopposed from Ward 7 of Varkhand Panchayat after three candidates withdrew their nominations and Madhun Naik was elected unopposed from Ward 2 of Ibrampur Panchayat after his rival withdrew his nomination.
