Mamledar dares BJP to vie for sarpanch and deputy post
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: Even though the BJP-MGP coalition is in power in the State, the situation at Curti-Khandepar Panchayat is totally the opposite.
The panchayat is ruled by MGP-supported panchas, while the BJP-supported panchas are in the opposition.
Speaking to Herald, Panch Sandip Khandeparkar claimed that the situation will now change following its win at the by-election to wards 1 and 9. Earlier, Deepa Naik won from ward 9, while on Monday Anand Zalmi was elected from ward 1.
The total number of BJP-supported candidates in the 11-member Curti-Khandepar Panchayat has reached five.
According to information, six panchas including the sarpanch and the deputy sarpanch are reported to be supported by the Maharashtra Gomantak Party.
“I am thankful to the people from ward 1 for electing our candidate. There were attempts from people with vested interest to bribe voters and played divisive politics, however voters stood by us,” said Khandeparkar while commenting on the win of BJP-supported Anand Zalmi.
When asked whether BJP will stake claim for the posts of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, which at present are held by the MGP-supported candidates, Khandeparkar said, “This is the answer from voters that they do not want the MGP rule here at the panchayat. If people want us to manage the panchayat, then we will certainly do it. We will assure a clean and non-corrupt functioning.”
When contacted, Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar claimed that the MGP-supported candidate lost owing to the reported alliance between BJP and Congress members.
“Both the BJP and Congress members worked to defeat our candidate. There was also use of muscle and money power. We still have the majority in Curti-Khandepar Panchayat and if at all BJP wants to have members supported by it to be sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, then let them try it out,” said the Ponda MGP MLA Lovoo Mamledar.
Though initially the Curti-Khandepar panchayat enjoyed total support of the MGP, somewhere along the way differences developed between the two parties and nowadays the fight is in the open with both parties claiming the upper hand in the said panchayat.
