The seven-member Agonda panchatat now includes two family members, as the sarpanch happens to be Barsat’s mother, Navneeta.
Naik Gaunkar polled 114 votes, while Dessai, who despite riding on a sympathy wave, could secure only 86 votes. One of the votes was declared invalid.
The Dessaiwada seat fell vacant after panch Sapnesh Dessai, who was also NCP’s state-level secretary, succumbed to accident injuries five months ago.
Counting of votes was taken up at the Canacona Mamlatdar’s office at 8 am and the result was known half an hour later.
