Team Herald
QUEPEM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supported candidates have gained control in 10 village panchayats while Congress had to be content with only one village panchayat in the Quepem taluka in the recently held panchayat elections.
Fatorpa-Quitol, Balli-Avedem, Barcem-Quedem, Ambaulim and Naqueri-Betul village panchayats falling in the jurisdiction of Quepem Assembly constituency while, Xeldem and Assolda village panchayats falling in the Curchorem constituency have won by candidates supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Morpirla is the only village panchayat where the Congress supported candidates have gained control.
On the other hand, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral saw that the candidates backed by him retained their hold on Xeldem and Assolda village panchayats.
Similarly, majority of BJP-backed candidates have wrested control in Cavorem-Pirla and Malcornem village panchayats falling in the limits of Sanguem constituency. Three candidates in Cavorem-Pirla village panchayat were already declared elected unopposed.
Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai said that the Bharatiya Janata Party flag has been hoisted on all village panchayats in the Sanguem constituency.
This time the real fight was between the BJP and Congress supported candidates in Quepem constituency since MLA Altone D’Costa wrested the Assembly seat for the Congress party in February this year. D’Costa struggled a lot to gain his control in village panchayats.
The major upset on the counting day was the defeat of Sanzil Cruz D’Costa, brother of Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa in Fatorpa-Quitol village panchayat. In a straight battle, BJP-backed Medini Naik defeated Sanzil D’Costa by seven votes in ward number 2.
