PORVORIM
Over two weeks have passed since the sarpanch and his deputy were ousted in a no-confidence motion and the village still awaits elections to both posts.
The panchas who had ousted former sarpanch Sandeep Vazarkar and deputy sarpanch Depali Satardekar in a no-confidence motion have alleged a bias against their panchayat and said despite multiple visits to the Directorate of Panchayats to fix a date for the election of a new sarpanch and deputy, there has been no decision in the matter.
In the absence of the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, Shirishkumar Tari has been appointed as administrator by the Directorate of Panchayats, but some panchas claim that he is at the panchayat office for only a few hours.
When contacted, Panch Sandeep Manjrekar alleged there had been a bias in holding elections to the two posts in their panchayat.
“A no-confidence motion was moved against Sancoale sarpanch Ramakant Borkar on October 5 and he was voted out of office on October 12. Girish Pillai was elected as the new sarpanch on October 19. The entire process was completed within 15 days,” said Manjrekar.
“On the other hand, the no-confidence motion at the Socorro panchayat was moved on September 23 and the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch of our panchayat were ousted a no-confidence motion on October 5.”
“Both these events took place much before that of the Sancoale panchayat. However, we are still awaiting elections to the new sarpanch and deputy. This clearly indicates that the Directorate of Panchayats is deliberately delaying elections to the new sarpanch at Socorro panchayat.”
“We approached the Director of Panchayats many times requesting to fix a date for the election of a new sarpanch of Socorro, but our efforts have been in vain so far,” said Manjrekar.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte also accused the Directorate of Panchayats of doing injustice to the Socorro panchayat by delaying to convene a meeting to elect a new sarpanch.
"Nobody has the right to paralyse the functioning of the panchayat for vested reasons. There is every possibility that a delay in the election of a new sarpanch and dy sarpanch would give time to intimidate or induce those panch members who had moved the vote of no confidence.”
“Apparently, the Directorate of Panchyats is taking the benefit of the law which states that the election can be held within 60 days,” said Khaunte.
