PANJIM: The election to the vacant post of Merces sarpanch was cancelled by Tiswadi BDO Manish H Kedar for the second time without giving any reasons.
Earlier, the election date was fixed on February 20. However, on February 19, a circular was sent postponing the election without giving any reason. And on March 15, a new circular informed the panchas that the election to the post of sarpanch would be held on March 22.
However, on Tuesday, no observer was deputed to conduct the election. Agitated over the development, the acting sarpanch along with six panchas drove to the BDO office to meet Kedar, but he wasn’t at the office.
When reporter tried to contact Kedar over the phone, he did not answer the call.
When contacted, Panchayat Minister Rajendra Arlekar said he was not aware of the development but would seek a report from the Director of Panchayat on the same.
Sources say that a BJP worker, acting on behalf of some opposition panchas who are his relatives, phoned up the Arlekar’s office on Monday evening and requested his PA to direct the BDO to postpone the election by not deputing the observer to conduct the election.
