Team Herald
PONDA: Goa Forward Party, the Congress and the BJP jointly formed the ruling panel in Curti Khandepar Panchayat on Tuesday and defeated the MGP supported candidate for the post of sarpanch.
Goa Forward supporter Santan Fernandes was elected as sarpanch by defeating his MGP supported rival candidate Sudhir Raut. Fernandes was supported by six of the 11 panchas — three Goa Forward supporters, two of BJP and one Congress backed panch. The voting was held by secret ballot.
Goa Forward leaders Durgadas Kamth and Akbar Mulla and other supporters expressed happiness over development. MGP Ponda Block President refused to comment on development.
The post had fallen vacant after former Sarpanch Rukma Khandeparkar resigned the post as per mutual understanding among their ruling group. Deputy Sarpanch Shailesh Shet, Panchas Rukma Khandeparkar, Dadi Naik, Shravani Gaude, Gurudas Khedekar voted in favour of Goa Forward Candidate Santan Fernandes while Nasim Bhanu, Bhikar Kerkar, Naved Tehsildar, Sharmila Sangaokar voted in favour of MGP Candidate Sudhir Raut.
