TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: After dilly dallying for around a month and half, the Director of Panchayat has finally fixed election for the post of Sarpanch and deputy Sarpanch of Dramapur-Sirlim Panchayat on October 18.
Elections for the post of Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch was earlier fixed on September 27, but the same was scuttled for want of a Presiding officer after the Presiding officer appointed by the panchayat Director mysteriously fell sick at 9.30 am on the day of polls. Surprisingly, the Salcete BDO Manuel Barretto, who was directed by the Panchayat Director to make alternate arrangement or to personally supervise the election in the event of the Presiding officer is unable to attend, also played truant by heading to Panjim on that day.
This time round, the Panchayat Director has appointed Ashish Patnerkar, an official in the Salcete BDO office, as the Presiding officer for the October 18 election for the two posts at 10.30 am.
Elections for the post of Sarpanch and deputy Sarpanch of Dramapur-Sirlim village panchayat have been necessitated following the ouster of then Sarpanch and deputy Sarpanch in a no confidence motion on August 27.
The four member group which had voted out the Sarpanch and deputy sarpanch have vowed to remain united in the face of attempts to sabotage the election process.
