PONDA: An unexpected split within the MGP-backed ruling group in Curti-Khandepar panchayat led to the victory of BJP, when two MGP-supported panchas switched sides and supported four BJP-backed panchas to elect Priya Chari as sarpanch.
Chari could get elected as sarpanch as two of the seven MGP-backed panchas, Deepa Naik and Narendra Parab, supported Chari’s candidature, instead of Supriya Gavde of MGP.
It was a major embarrassment for the MGP as Chari defeated Gavde by 6 -5 votes.
The post had fallen vacant after MGP-backed Sarpanch Deepa Naik resigned from the post on November 20 in a mutual agreement after serving for two-and-half years. Gavde was expected to serve as sarpanch for the remaining term of the panchayat.
“I was to serve as sarpanch for the next two-and-half years after Deepa Naik resigned from the post. But instead of supporting me, she split and supported the BJP-backed candidate along with another panch Narendra Parab,” Gavde said.
Sandeep Khandeparkar, a BJP leader in Ponda and panch of Curti-Khandepar, told Herald that though panchayats are not ruled along party lines, the BJP-supported panchas had formed the ruling group.
“This panchayat lacked development and people were unhappy. We will do our best to bring development work in next two-and-half years,” said Khandeparkar.
“A garbage treatment plant is the need of hour in the panchayat. We are not against any garbage project, even if it belongs to the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC), which wants to set up a garbage treatment plant at Keriya in our panchayat. What is important is that the people should be taken into confidence and the garbage project should be free from foul smell,” said Khandeparkar.
Downplaying the unexpected ouster of the MGP-backed ruling group in Curti-Khandepar panchayat, Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar said it would not make any impact on the MGP.
“The MGP has a strong base all over Ponda constituency and I am not perturbed about these minor changes at the panchayat level. Such changes happen in politics and we will take suitable steps to prevent such incidents,” Mamledar added.
In a related development on Wednesday evening, the newly formed ruling group of BJP-backed panchas immediately moved a no-confidence motion against Deputy Sarpanch Nagesh Naik and submitted their petition to the BDO.
