MAPUSA: Abhay Shirodkar and Manorama Govekar were elected as the new sarpanch and deputy of the Siolim-Marna Panchayat at a special meeting held at the panchayat office on Friday.
Since the presiding officer had received two nominations for the sarpancha’s post - one from former deputy sarpanch William Fernandes and the other from Abhay Shirodkar, voting was held by secret ballot.
Shirodkar bagged six votes while William received only three in the nine member panchayat. The presiding officer then declared Abhay Shirodkar as the new sarpanch, while Manorama Govekar who was the sole contestant for the post of deputy sarpanch, was declared elected unopposed.
It may be recalled that on May 2, the then sarpanch Sharmila Vernekar had tendered her resignation before she could be voted out of office since five panchas tabled a no confidence motion against her.
Since then, the post of sarpanch was lying vacant. On the same day, Deputy Sarpanch William Fernandes tendered his resignation to contest for the sarpancha’s post which he however could not succeed.