Marriage and divorce in less than 24 hours in Mandrem’s sinking panchayat politics

PERNEM: All that is disgusting and violative of grassroots principles of governance erupted in the Mandrem panchayat less than 24 hours after the panch members took oath. Supposedly a-political, newly elected “grassroots” panchas first posed for the photograph with former BJP MLA Dayanand Sopte, backing “his” sarpanch Mahesh Konadkar, by showing allegiance to him on Monday, August 22.

On August 23, the picture changes. One doesn’t know what happened overnight but as the sun rose, the same panchas shifted allegiance to sitting MGP MLA Jit Arolkar who contested against Sopte in the last assembly elections. Ironically BJP and MGP are in the government together now.

The newly-elected Mandrem Sarpanch Mahesh Konadkar had to face an embarrassing situation as seven panchayat members tabled a no-confidence notice against him merely within 24 hours of his election.

The Mandrem village went into a frenzy after a group of majority panchas submitted the notice to Pernem Block Development Officer (BDO) Manesh Kedar, immediately after taking oath on Tuesday.

Copies of the no-confidence notice were also submitted to the panchayat secretary and the Directorate of Panchayats, Panjim, requesting them to convene a special meeting to discuss the no-confidence notice and voting. 

The panchas who have signed the no-trust notice are Prashant Naik, Tara Hadfadkar, Michelle Sharon Amboj Fernandes, Robert Antanas Fernandes, Kiran Sawant, and Miguel Gabriel Fernandes, and Amit Sawant.  It was not difficult to know who switched sides as both Konadkar and Chetna Pednekar were elected unopposed on Monday.

The locals have alleged that the move was to indicate Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar’s attempt to assert his hold a day after former MLA Dayanand Sopte had claimed that he had backed the ruling panel.

Arolkar said, “I have never involved myself in the panchayat politics. When the sarpanch was elected, former MLA (Dayanand Sopte) announced his claim over the panchayat but its outcome was seen today.”

When contacted, Konadkar refused to comment on the developments.

Meanwhile, Pernem BDO Manesh Kedar has convened a special meeting at 11 am on August 29, to discuss the no-confidence notice tabled against the sarpanch.

Mandrem village panchayat comprises 11 members.