MARGAO
In a development that has taken many by surprise, Chairperson of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat, Sanjana Velip, quit office on Monday.
The resignation comes just four months ahead of the Zilla Panchayat election scheduled later this year, around November-December.
The chief of the district panchayat body tendered her resignation to the office of the Director of Panchayats on Monday evening as per the diktat of the BJP leadership. Sanjana’s resignation comes days after the chairperson of the North Goa ZP had quit office.
Asked to comment on her sudden decision to quit office, Sanjana said she had tendered her resignation as per the instructions from the BJP leadership. She presided over the post for around 10 months, sources said.
Sanjana was elected unopposed to the hot seat in the elections held on September 2, 2024, following the resignation of then ZP chief Suvarna Tendulkar, also as per the diktat from the party leadership. Tendulkar had played a long innings as she had presided over the post of chairperson for around three years and seven months, preparing the District Development Plan and tendering over 600-odd developmental works during her stint.
With Sanjana’s exit, speculation is rife over her likely successor, as the South Goa chairperson’s seat is reserved for women. It was widely speculated that the BJP leadership had picked Sanjana Velip to head the district panchayat with an eye on the crucial ST vote and to further consolidate the vote towards the party in the scheme of things.
