TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: It has been 20 days since the sarpanch and the deputy
sarpanch of Chinchinim village panchayat were voted out of office
in a no-trust motion, but there’s still no sign of early election
to fill up the vacant posts.
Both sarpanch Antonio Sequeira and his deputy Melsa Barretto,
owing allegiance to local Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva, were ousted
from office in a no-confidence motion on April 1 on grounds they
were not supporting the panchayat proposal to construct a market
complex on the acquired land.
Since then, Chinchinim Panchayat had come under the rule of a
government-appointed administrator. When Herald contacted the
panchayat office on Saturday, members pointed out there is no idea
when the government would hold election to fill up the vacant
posts. Panch member Constancio Fernandes said the panchayat has
not received any election schedule till date. “We will seek
details from the office of the panchayat director on early holding
of election for the two posts”, Constancio said.
Though the Panchayat Raj Act mandates filling up the vacant posts
within 60 days, many an eyebrow has been raised in Chinchinim
political circles whether the government would wait till the fag
end to hold the election like in the case of neighbouring
Dramapur-Sirlim panchayat.
It may be recalled that the office of the panchayat director had
held election for the post of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch of
Dramapur-Sirlim Panchayat after more than 50 days, notwithstanding
that the administration had virtually come to a standstill during
the administrator’s rule. “We hope
the panchayat director doesn’t take a long time in filling up the
vacant posts like in the case of the Dramapur-Sirlim panchayat”,
remarked a villager.
