Winds Of Change In Cuncolim?; Political Shake-Up in Paroda Panchayat

Panaji : The political scene in Paroda is witnessing a significant churn, with four members of the Village Panchayat, Deepak Atchut Kharangate, Natalino Francisco Vissoscar, Manisha Manohar Naik, and Rajeshree Sandeep Gaonkar, formally moving a No Confidence Motion against Sarpanch Paulina Macklina Fernandes and Deputy Sarpanch Shailesh Datta Jotkar. The members have alleged that the Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch have failed to consult other elected representatives and have remained largely inaccessible to the public at the panchayat office.

According to the signatories, the Panchayat has been run unilaterally, sidelining the voice of elected members and leaving the villagers of Paroda disillusioned. The absence of transparency and collective decision-making has been repeatedly raised in meetings, but the grievances, they allege, went unaddressed. This, they say, compelled them to take the drastic step of moving a No Confidence Motion.

The Village Panchayat of Paroda has, in recent years, been considered a stronghold under the political influence of MLA and Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao. The initiation of this motion is therefore being viewed as a bold move against entrenched control, reflecting a growing discontent within grassroots politics.

Political observers suggest that if this motion is successful, it could mark a turning point in the regional balance of power. It has the potential to create a benchmark for local bodies where elected members assert their independence against external political interference. The outcome could resonate beyond Paroda, impacting the political climate across Salcete and South Goa.

Equally significant is the larger political backdrop. Analysts see this as an opportunity for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to regain lost ground in the constituency. The development could also re-energize the political prospects of former MLA Clafasio Dias, who is seeking to re-establish himself in Paroda and consolidate his influence in the run-up to future elections.

The coming days will be crucial as the motion is formally tabled and debated within the Panchayat. All eyes will be on whether the move gathers enough strength to dislodge the Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch, potentially redrawing the political equations in Paroda. For now, the No Confidence Motion stands as both a statement of dissent by elected members and a test of grassroots democracy against centralized control.