Team Herald
MARGAO: In keeping with a trend that never seems to go out of fashion in Indian politics, nepotism reigned supreme with the kith and kin of seasoned politicians sweeping the polls in several village panchayats across the State.
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Former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao, former Minister Mickky Pacheco and former MLA Wilfred alias Babashan D’Sa from the coastal belt of Salcete taluka managed to regain their hold on the respective Village Panchayats, as their near and dear ones got elected with a comfortable margin.
Contesting from Varca Village Panchayat, Sharon Denis D’Costa, daughter of Churchill Alemao was elected from Ward number 2, which was reserved for women candidates by polling 166 votes. Her opponent Joanita Pereira managed to secure 156 votes.
In Nuvem Village Panchayat, Frida D’Sa, wife of Wilfred D’Sa won the election from Ward 4, with a margin of 60 votes. She polled 262 votes while her opponent Silvia Sequeira managed to get 202 votes. Frida, a former deputy sarpanch has been elected for the consecutive fourth term from the Nuvem Village Panchayat.
Speaking to Herald, Wilfred D’Sa said that they have always maintained good relations with the people and worked hard to resolve all the issues. “People were happy and satisfied with our work and hence we managed to get elected for a fourth term,” he said.
Similarly, in Ward 2 of Betalbatim Village Panchayat Viola Rosline Pacheco, wife of former Minister Mickky Pacheco won with a huge margin of 165 votes. Viola polled 258 votes against Fanny Da Silva’s tally of only 93 votes.
Varca’s winning candidate Sharon D’Costa said that she will work hard for the betterment of her ward.
Frida D’Sa also assured to work for the people. She gave the credit for her victory to the voters of her ward.
“People voted for me because they have trust in me that their work will be done. I don’t have any personal interest and people’s voices will be heard,” said Viola Pacheco.
Interestingly, two couples managed to win the elections and one couple lost in the Cana-Benaulim Village Panchayat, whereas in Curtorim, the Hilario brothers won the elections.
Two more closely related candidates also made their entry into the panchayat; again in Benaulim. Former panch member David Francisco Fernandes and his wife Vencila Rodrigues won the elections from wards number five and six respectively. David polled 318 votes against 189 polled by Lourenco Fernandes- While his wife Vencila Rodrigues, former sarpanch got 338 votes in her favour and won by the margin of 97 votes.
Similarly, Xavier Wenecy Pereira was elected unopposed from ward number eight, reserved for OBC candidate and his wife former sarpanch Diella Fernandes polled 218 votes and won the election from ward number seven.
Interestingly, Genciana Barreto Colaco and Rini S Mascarenhas have won the elections from wards numbers three and eleven of the Cana-Benaulim Village panchayat respectively. They both are from the one family being sisters-in-law.
In the Cutorim Village Panchayat, Mateus Hilario and Caitan Hilario, both brothers won the elections from wards number two and three respectively.
Similarly in Nerul Village panchayat of Bardez taluka, Sandesh Govekar and his brother Sudesh Govekar were elected from wards seven and eight respectively. They are sons of former Nerul sarpanch Shashikala Govekar.
