PONDA: With the sarpanch’s post in the five-member Volvoi panchayat in Priol constituency reserved from a woman and all three male panch members refusing to second the name of one of the two female panch members, election for the post has been deferred to July 8.
The newly elected panchayat body consists of Anjali Naik, Nilkanth Naik, Anjali Vengurlekar, Digambar Tari and Rajendra Naik. On Monday, the male panchas refused to support Anjali Naik, who had staked claim to the sarpanch’s post. Her name was proposed by the other woman panch Anjali Vengurlekar, but could not get support of any of the three male panchas to second her nomination.
As a result, Anjali’s nomination was rejected by the presiding officer and election to the post was deferred. Incidentally, Digamber Tari had no difficulty in getting elected as deputy sarpanch of Volvoi.
It is said that the two female panchas have allegiance to Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and the three male panchas have allegiance to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP-backed male panchas are in no mood to support Anjali and the sarpanch’s post could very well be vacant for an extended period. Ironically, the alliance government involving the two parties has completed 100 days.
When contacted, former BJP MLA from Priol Vishwas Satarkar blamed MGP-backed panch members for not approaching BJP-backed panchas for support. He said, “BJP will support MGP panch to become the sarpanch only if they agree to the terms and condition laid down by the BJP.” Reacting on the issue, senior MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar said that BJP-backed panchas should extend support to the MGP panch member. He also said that if panch members do not reach a consensus, he will seek Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s intervention.