http://oheraldo.in/node/10833
Goa's A-1 status marred by instability By Alvaro Colaco CORTALIM, MARCH 9 — Goa may have acquired the numero uno status in the country in governance however its status in terms of stability leaves much to be desired. While Goa being the smallest state in the country gave its people 15 chief ministers in the last 15 years, the local bodies in the State's smallest taluka - Mormugao, also had its share in instability. Of the six panchayats coming under Mormugao taluka — except for Chicalim and Cansaulim — all the panchayats have witnessed numerous changes be it the sarpanch or deputy sarpanch posts. The panchayat which topped the instability list during the current term is perhaps the seven-member Velsao panchayat, which includes two women. Except for one male panch, all male panchas had the experience of the sarpanch seat, while the deputy post, which is reserved for woman, the post has been rotated twice - all through no-confidence motions. In Cortalim panchayat, instability factor has been no better for the post of sarpanch which is reserved for women. Three sarpanchas and two deputy sarpanchas were ousted. The Bogmallo-Chicolna panchayat however created a history of sorts after the male panchas denied their female counterparts to occupy the sarpanchas past after allowing them just over a year in office. The five-member panchayat has three men and two women. Apart from a stint of Administrators rule following the resignation of the acting sarpanch Vasant Naik after his election to the Sancoale Zilla Panchayat seat, the post of the sarpanch is being occupied by a male deputy sarpanch Gabriel D'Cruz, who is officiating as acting sarpanch. In Sancoale panchayat, the post of the sarpanch which is reserved for men, three sarpanchas have been ousted, while the deputy's post has seen one change. However, the situation is not altogether grim for Mormugao panchayats. Two Panchayats - Cansaulim headed by Martha Saldanha and Chicalim by Raul D'Costa and their deputies Ferwin Saldanha and Francisco Nunes have had smooth sailing so far. Chicalim panchayat has also been categorized for the first time as the best performing panchayat in the "A Category" and awarded third prize. Cansaulim sarpanch will be one of the few exceptions - a post which is held by a woman in the general category seat. In fact, Martha has also got elected as a panch from a general category seat. However, for the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), which has been formed a couple of months back the 'instability bug' hasn't been successful yet, although the body witnessed many changes to the chairman's and deputy chairman's post during the last term of the body. Things have not been better for the MLAs representing Mormugao as well which have given representation to all the three major parties in the State. Two of the three MLAs have been disqualified. While the Cortalim MLA Matanhy Saldanha from the UGDP stands disqualified for defying the party whip, the saffron party MLA Rajendra Arlekar has been disqualified for holding office of profit during the run-up to the election. -- TUMCHER AXIRVAD ASSUM; DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England
