Team Herald
VASCO: Popularly known as the Iron Lady from Cansaulim and having vast experience in panchayat politics, 71-year-old veteran politician Martha Saldanha created history by wining for the sixth time from Cansaulim village which is part of Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim Panchayat.
Unlike in the past, Saldanha floated her own panel for the panchayat polls from CAC Panchayat and despite negative campaigning by local civic and consumer forum as well as Aam Admi Leader Olencio Simoes, Saldanha made a clean sweep after she as well as the candidates supported by her managed to win all 11 wards in the CAC Panchayat body.
“People have elected my panel because I did hard and good work during my tenure as Sarpanch of CAC for 15 long years. This vote also is against anti-development for the last 10 years. This vote is against the AAP leaders and others who were making false propaganda that if I win then I will bring the hotels in the village. Today people have shown whom they trust and thus we managed to get a clean sweep,” Saldanha said.
Saldanha said, “There were no politicians involved, however a former priest from Sancoale Church was sending negative post to the people against me. A local doctor was a main leader campaigning against me. Nevertheless, we are back and now we aim to take up development that did not happen in last 10 years. My priorities would be to resolve the garbage issue.”
Meanwhile, upset at losing its ground in Cansaulim, AAP leader Olencio Simoes said that it was due to money power, Martha’s panel got such a mandate. “We had floated the panel that was backed by the concerned citizens of CAC as we wanted sustainable development and to protect the identity of the village, however we lost because the opponents who wanted unsustainable development and to pass the hotel projects in the village distributed Rs 2000 per voter and this swing was seen. Also migrants who are not residents of our village were included in the electoral roll of the village and thus such unexpected results were seen. Nevertheless, we are here to protect the village and we will continue our efforts in future,” Simoes added.
