Eight newly-elected members of the 11-member Curtorim village panchayat headed by local MLA Reginaldo Lourenco’s close aide, Rupesh Naik is all set to form the new panchayat.
the goan I network
MARGAO
Against the backdrop of statements made by former deputy sarpanch Simon Barretto that an independent group of members, not associated with the Reginaldo camp, would form the Curtorim panchayat, the eight members in the presence of local MLA Reginaldo Lourenco told the media that they are forming the new panchayat with support and help of the local legislator.
Addressing the media, Rupesh said that the eight members, including Rui Menezes, have vowed to support the local MLA with an aim to usher in development of the village. “We want the help of the MLA to take up development in the village,”
Rupesh added.
Panch elect Rui Menezes told the media that Reginaldo is the MLA of Curtorim constituency and the new panchayat will usher in the village development with the support of the MLA.
Reginaldo told the media that he did not field a panel in all the four panchayat bodies, including Curtorim, Raia, Rachol and Camurlim, adding that candidates had contested on their own
and won.
“As far as Camurlim is concerned, the newly-elected members appears to have a different view. But, we have made it clear that we don’t want the BJP panel in the constituency,” he said.
Referring to the statement made by outgoing Rachol sarpanch Joseph Vaz that his panel was defeated because of the campaign by a priest, Reginaldo said the panel fielded by Joseph was not defeated by the priest, but by the people of Rachol.
He urged the BJP leadership and the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar to claim support of the newly-elected panch members. “People of Goa had booted out the BJP in the Assembly election and their candidates have been defeated in the panchayat polls. The mandate is very clear that the people do not want the BJP. The Chief Minister should respect the people’s mandate,” he added.
