TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PORVORIM: The Aldona panchayat witnessed unusual drama on Friday when Aldona Sarpanch Jotsyna Nagade was ousted through a no-confidence motion, after Deputy Sarpanch Charudatta Panjikar suddenly switched sides at the last moment and voted in favour of the no-confidence motion.
Then, in a deft political move, Panjikar managed to survive a no-confidence motion against him, thereby ensuring that he will serve as acting sarpanch ~ a post reserved for a woman, till a new sarpanch is elected to the panchayat.
It may be recalled that a no-confidence motion was submitted to the Block Development Office at Mapusa last week against Sarpanch Nagade and Deputy Sarpanch Charudatta Panjiker by Thomas Tavares, Ujwala Kandolker, Celsa Rodrigues, Deepak Naik, Harish Mayekar and Jerry Noronha.
The BDO Mapusa convened a special meeting in the panchayat office on Friday to discuss the notice of no-confidence against the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch. The BDO Mapusa had appointed Block Development Officer Deepak Vaiganker and extension officer Madaiker to conduct the proceedings.
When the no-confidence motion was put to vote, only five of the six signatories to the motion raised their hands. Panch Thomas Tavares, who had signed the no-confidence motion, did not raise his hand.
Then in an unexpected move, Deputy Sarpanch Panjiker, who was also served with a no-confidence motion, raised his hand to support the motion and Nagade was ousted by a margin of 6 votes to 5.
When the no-confidence motion against Panjiker came up for discussion, the six panchas who had moved the no-confidence motion did not have the requisite numbers with them.
As a result, no one proposed and seconded the no-trust motion against Panjiker and the same was defeated.
By surviving the no-confidence motion, Panjiker continues to be the deputy sarpanch and will now serve as acting sarpanch in the panchayat, even though the sarpanch’s post is reserved for women.
And with the Election Code of Conduct in place, Panjiker could well serve as acting sarpanch till mid-May, unless he is ousted in a no-confidence motion or if he decides to resign from the post.
“Though the post of sarpanch is reserved for women, Panjiker will dominate the panchayat till the election of the new sarpanch,” remarked a panch who spoke on condition of anonymity.
BDO Deepak Vaiganker was assisted by Panchayat Secretary Cliffton Azavedo to conduct the proceedings at the special meeting.
When contacted, the ousted sarpanch Jyotsna Nagade said she was shocked to see Panjiker raising his hand in support of the no-confidence against her.
“He had assured to support me in the no-confidence motion. Panch Thomas Tavares informed me that he had signed the no-confidence motion under pressure from some quarters and he had promised that he would vote against the no-confidence motion.”
“He kept to his promise but Panjiker ditched me at the last moment. I have been against corruption and did not allow corrupt practices in the panchayat. Perhaps, Panjiker did not like my sincerity and took the opportunity to eliminate me as sarpanch, said Nagade.
