TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Antonio Inacio Sequeira is the new Sarpanch of Chinchinim panchayat.
Melcy Barretto, who was voted out of office in a no confidence motion over a month ago, has bounced back to the office after she was elected again as deputy sarpanch.
Elections for the two posts turned out a hotly contested affair with the Sarpanch and his deputy emerging victorious by polling seven votes each. While Sequeira defeated Santano Leitao by 7-4 votes, Melcy defeated Lydia Simon Fernandes by an identical margin. Sources said the husband-wife duo of Constancio and Joslyn Fernandes supported Antonio and Melcy for the two posts. Incidentally, both Constancio and Joslyn were the signatories to the no trust motion against ousted Sarpanch Royen Viegas and deputy sarpanch Melcy Barretto.
After his election, Sequeira said he will take all the members into confidence to usher in the village development. Replying to a question, he said members of the Panchayat body does not owe allegiance to any politician or party, but hastened to add that the body would approach local MLA Benjamin D’Silva for the development of the village.

