Captains & vice captains of village governance chosen in 186 panchayats

PANJIM: The sarpanchas and deputy sarpanchas in all 186 village panchayats were elected on Monday, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming that its members and workers have romped home in more than 140 village panchayats.

The prominent among who got elected as sarpanch was a 72-year-old woman Rukmini Gaonkar of Kirlapal- Dabal panchayat and she is learnt to be the oldest sarpanch to get elected.

Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar saw his wife Savita Tawadkar elected unopposed as sarpanch of Poinguinim panchayat in Canacona taluka.

Daniel Lobo, son of Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and legislator Delilah Lobo was elected deputy sarpanch of Parra panchayat. Delilah was earlier Parra sarpanch before she was elected as Siolim MLA.  

Frida D’Sa, wife of former Nuvem MLA Wilfred ‘Babashan’ D’Sa was elected sarpanch of Nuvem panchayat. He had earlier served as deputy sarpanch. Also Viola Pacheco, wife of former Minister Mickky Pacheco was elected deputy sarpanch of Betalbatim panchayat. 

Laxmidas Chimulkar, who had defeated the outgoing sarpanch Patrick Almeida was rewarded with the sarpanch’s post in Anjuna-Caisua panchayat. 

Similarly, one of the longest serving sarpanch Joseph Sequeira, who faced waterloo in the last polls, romped home to victory with his panel and occupied the sarpanch‘s seat in Calangute panchayat.   

TMC member Mario Pinto was also elected sarpanch of Goltim-Navelim panchayat for the second time.

Allan Silveira, nephew of former minister Francis Silveira was elected deputy sarpanch of St Lawrence panchayat (Agasaim) 

As per information available, maximum number of sarpanchas and deputy sarpanchas were elected unopposed.

Various panels enjoying majority were formed soon after the declaration of election results. Most of the MLAs were successful in retaining their hold in panchayats falling in their constituencies while some MLAs suffered setback.

In Bardez taluka, many panchas had gone into hiding fearing of being poached and descended in the panchayat offices for the election on Monday morning. 

In Benaulim constituency, most panchayat members claimed to be Independents and formed ruling panels. 

Meanwhile, all the elected panchayat members will be administered oath by the respective Block Development Officers (BDOs) at the taluka BDO offices on Tuesday.