JULIO DSILVA
MARGAO: Counting in the three halls at Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex commenced exactly at 8 am and by 10:45 am the first round in the hall occupied by the Returning Office I was completed with the Cana Benaulim and Raia panchayat votes counted.
Counting of votes in the following panchayats was taken up first next: Aquem Baixo, Chinchinim-Deusua, Carmona, Cavelossim, Velim, Ambelim, Assolna, Paroda and Guirdolim.
Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias’ panel made a clean sweep at Paroda and Macasana panchayats winning all the seven seats in both panchayats. However, in the seven member Guirdolim panchayat five of his candidates won thereby giving him a majority in the panchayat.
At Aquem Baixo the panel floated by Satyavijay Naik who was the MGP candidate at the assembly elections won a majority thus Luizinho Faleiro’s panel could not take control of this panchayat. However, former Sarpanch Agnelo Dias, a die hard Luizinho supporter won in his ward.
Luizinho’s panel could not get the majority in Navelim panchayat where one panchayat was elected unopposed and former minister Avertano Furtado’s panel is likely to take control of this panchayat.
In the 11-member Cana Benaulim panchayat, candidates supported by MLA Churchill Alemao won in five wards but he is expected to take control of this panchayat as it is reserved to have a lady sarpanch. However, in Carmona only two of his candidates won while the other five elected panchas were fielded by Carmona United.
Among the prominent losers were former Sarpanch Ana Carneiro in Navelim and former Sarpanch Milagres Gonsalves along with his wife and brother in three wards of Guirdolim panchayat. Former sarpanch of Colva Snowkon Gonsalves also lost.
Amongst the popular winners is Joseph Vaz long term serving sarpanch of Rachol and Deepak Karangate outgoing sarpanch of Paroda.
Recount was asked for in 10 wards of seven panchayats namely ward no. 5 of Orlim, ward Nos. 3 and 5 of Varca, ward No. 9 of Chinchinim-Deusua, ward nos. 3, 4 and 5 of Rachol, ward no. 6 of Ambelim, ward No. 11 of Curtorim and ward no. 1 of Macasana.
In ward No. 5 of Rachol panchayat, Luis Ubaldino Oliveira won by a margin of just one 1 vote against Nancia Niedade Fernandes. While Luis got 87 votes, Nancia garnered 86 votes including one by postal ballot.
Entry inside the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex was strictly monitored and candidates were heard grumbling that they had to park their vehicles far off at Ambaji and walk to the complex. Even entry inside the counting hall was restricted and only the candidate or counting agent was allowed which angered quite a few of those gathered outside.
While many opposing candidates were seen talking in very friendly terms there were some who were exchanging acrimonious looks too. And while the winning candidates were seen in joyful mood there were some defeated candidates who were celebrating because they had succeeded in ensuring the defeat of another disliked candidate.
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All over Goa, people voted in favour of Congress, says Luizinho
MARGAO: Former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro expressed happiness over the panchayat election results as according to him all over Goa the people have voted in favour of the Congress as members of the party have been elected all over. In Navelim constituency that he represents, he said the Congress will take control of all the panchayats including Davorlim Dicarpale where Satyavijay Naik’ panel had emerged victorious. “Satyavijay does not have people and he spoke to me in the morning stating that we should join hands to manage the panchayat,” he said. Refuting the claim that he had failed to take control of the Navelim panchayat, he said his candidates were in the second position if not the first in most of the wards while former minister Avertano Furtado’s candidates were in third position. He was confident of taking control of the Navelim panchayat also.
Meanwhile Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias was confident that his panel will also sweep the Chandor-Cavorim panchayat.
