PONDA: The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) virtually dominated the panchayats in Ponda after securing posts of Sarpanchas and Deputy Sarpanchas in 10 out of the total 19 panchayats. After safeguarding Madkaim, Ketan Bhatikar’s ‘Rising Khandepar’ panel achieved success in Keri, Volvoi and Bhoma-Adcolna panchayats of Priol constituency as well as Curti-Khandepar panchayat, which comes under Ponda constituency.
The BJP’s failure in Curti panchayat came as a political jolt to the ruling party. However, in consolation, the saffron party managed to keep all the four panchayats in the Shiroda constituency. In Priol, panels backed by Sports Minister Govind Gaude managed to win in 4 out of 7 panchayats.
Naved Tehsildar and Wilma Pereira were elected Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch, respectively, in the Curti-Khandepar panchayat. Both of them secured 6 votes each.
