TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: The reported feud between MGP and BJP supporters in Bhoma-Adcolna Panchayat has come to the fore after MGP-backed panchas were accused of deliberately denying the BJP-backed woman panch the sarpanch’s chair.
For the third time in a row, the election to elect a Bhoma-Adcolna sarpanch was inconclusive with no seconder to Mahima Naik’s candidature. On all three occasions, Panch Varsha Naik had proposed Mahima’s candidature to the post of sarpanch.
Incidentally, the sarpancha’s post in the seven-member Bhoma-Adcolna Panchayat, which has two female panchas, is reserved for woman and in August 2012, Varsha was ousted from the sarpancha’s post following a no-confidence motion. Since then, Deputy Sarpanch Damodar Naik is the acting sarpanch.
Even though there are allegations and counter allegations as to why the male panchas do not want a woman sarpanch, it is learnt that Mahima, who is a BJP supporter, was reportedly offered a place in the MGP in exchange for the sarpanch post. The five male panchas are learnt to be MGP supporters, while Varsha is said to be neutral.
MGP, which is in alliance with BJP, has been accused of pressuring BJP supporters from Bhoma-Adcolna Panchayat to join MGP.
When contacted, Priol MLA Deepak Dhavlikar agreed that Mahima Naik was offered a place in MGP but denied reports of playing pressure tactics. “I have not forced anyone but had made an offer to join MGP,” stated Dhavlikar.
On Wednesday, the Ponda Block Development Office (BDO) had scheduled an election to elect the sarpanch and all seven panchas were present.
“According to the rule, there has to be a proposer and a seconder. Mahima had filed her nomination to the sarpanch’s post and Varsha was the proposer,” informed Ravindra Naik, extension officer, BDO Ponda.
“All the panchas were present but no one seconded Mahima’s candidature and the election process concluded without electing the sarpanch. The report will be sent to the Directorate of Panchayat,” informed Naik.
It may be recalled in December 2012, none of the five male panchas showed interest in seconding Mahima’s candidature, while in October, the five panchas including the deputy sapranch boycotted the election process.
