PORVORIM
Manisha Naik and Shalu Gupta have been elected unopposed as sarpanch and deputy sarpanch respectively of Penha de Franca panchayat.
The two posts had fallen vacant as former sarpanch Swapnil Chodankar and former Dy Sarpanch Manisha Naik had resigned on the same day a fortnight ago.
The Mapusa Block Development Office had convened a special meeting on Tuesday in the panchayat office to elect a new sarpanch and Dy sarpanch and had deputed Shirish Kumar Tari as an observer to conduct the election proceedings.
Nine Panch members, Swapnil Chodankar, Manisha Naik, Safar Phadte, Shalu Gupta, Savita Naik, Gurudas Vernekar, Gabriel Vaz, Francis D’Souza and Sandesh Manjrekar attended the meeting, while Sham Kamat and Smita Kalangutkar remained absent.
Since only one nomination each was received to both posts, presiding officer Shirish Kumar Tari declared Manisha Naik and Shalu Gupta elected unopposed as sarpanch and Dy sarpanch respectively.
Later speaking to press persons, Sarpanch Manisha Naik and Dy Sarpanch Shalu Gupta thanked the panch members for electing them unopposed and assured to work for the development of the village by taking all panch members into confidence.
