PANJIM: Eight wards of different village panchayats fell vacant within six months of election due to various reasons, necessitating by-elections. One ward fell vacant due to death of the oldest 82-year panch while, two others resigned in Quepem taluka as both got government jobs in the Agriculture Department.
The wards where by-elections will be held are ward number 5 of Velguem Village Panchayat and ward 6 of Ona-Maulinguem-Kudchirem Village Panchayat in Bicholim taluka; ward 6 of Orlim Village Panchayat and ward 1 of Rachol Village Panchayat in Salcete taluka; ward 4 of Balli-Adnem Village panchayat and ward 7 of Barcem-Quedem Village panchayat in Quepem taluka; and ward 2 of Kalay Village Panchayat in Sanguem taluka.
Ward 6 of Ona-Maulinguem-Kudchirem village panchayat fell vacant due to death of 82-year-old Bhago Bhairu Varak in October last year, while Durgadas Naik, who was the deputy sarpanch of Velguem panchayat, resigned as Deputy Sarpanch and panch of ward 5 citing personal reasons and future prospects.
Rajesh Naik representing ward 4 of Balli-Adnem panchayat and Lavesh Mhalu Velip from of ward 7 of Barcem-Quedem panchayat resigned as both got jobs in the Directorate of Agriculture.
In Rachol panchayat, Cyndi Mendes e Colaco resigned as panchayat member of ward 1 citing health issues, while John Erisso Fernandes quit as panch member of ward 6 of Orlim panchayat due to his frequent overseas travels, which is preventing him from fulfilling his duty.
In Kalay panchayat, Shailesh Naik was the sarpanch but he resigned as sarpanch and later as panchayat member from ward 2, due to personal reasons.
Meanwhile, a vacancy has been created in ward 2 of Dramapur-Sirlim village panchayat as Roque Santan Mascarenhas resigned as panch member, stating that he will not be able to give time to his people due to his business.
However, this ward will not to go to by-poll on March 25, as Mascarenhas resigned on February 2 and the vacancy could not be intimated to the State Election Commission (SEC) on time.
According to Assistant Director (IT) of SEC, Sagar Gurav the maximum limit of total election expenses by a candidate has been fixed at Rs 40,000 and the voting would be held through Ballot papers as it is mandated under the existing laws.
He informed that to monitor the enforcement of MCC, the Commission has appointed General Observers and Expenditure Observer. Also the flying squads shall be deployed by the District Collector North Goa and South Goa.
The Commission said that adequate police force will be deployed by the police department for smooth conduct of by-elections.
