PONDA/SANKHALI: Incumbent chairperson Ritesh Naik was re-elected chairperson of Ponda Municipal Council by defeating Shivanand Sawant by 10-5 votes, at a meeting held at the municipal hall on Tuesday.
Deepa Colvekar was also elected vice chairperson by 10-5 votes. She defeated Vedika Volvoikar. The election was held by show of hands.
Both Ritesh Naik and Deepa Colvekar were backed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while, Shivanand Sawant and Vedika Volvoikar belong to MGP-supported Rising Ponda.
Ritesh Naik, elder son of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik was chosen for the chairperson’s post despite there being many aspirants within the ruling panel.
During the election, mediapersons were not allowed inside the hall to cover the election proceedings. The journalists protested against the decision of the Presiding Officer Ponda Deputy Collector Raghu Phaldesai.
Minister Ravi Naik who was present in the meeting hall said that the media should be allowed to cover the election, but in vain.
After getting declared elected, Ritesh Naik said that his priority will be to complete the developmental works proposed by the council. He said that construction of `Palika Bazaar’ would be undertaken soon. He also disclosed plans to have a parking project and food court in Ponda town.
At Sankhali Municipal Council, Rashmi Desai and Anand Kanekar were declared elected unopposed as chairperson and vice chairperson respectively.
Bicholim Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Rohan Kaskar was the presiding officer. Rashi Desai has been elected for the third consecutive term while, Kanekar has been elected for the second term.
The ruling panel supported by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has 11 councillors in the 12-member council. All the councillors were also administered oath of office.
After the election, all 11 councillors met the chief minister at his official residence and sought his support and cooperation for the development of Sankhali.
Meanwhile, all the newly elected councillors from Ponda and Sankhali will be imparted two-day training at the Goa Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (GIPARD), Old Goa on May 18 and 19.
