Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Palolem ward councillor Laxuman Pagui has been unanimously elected as the new and fourth Chairperson of the current term of the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC).
Pagui also becomes the fourth Chairperson from the Akhil Goa Kshetriya Pagi Samaj community, after former chairpersons Divakar Pagi, Samita Dhuri, and Ratnakar Dhuri.
Presiding officer and Deputy Collector Madhukar Narvekar, after scrutinizing the only nomination received, declared Pagui elected unopposed in the presence of CMC Chief Officer Laxmikant Dessai.
All 12 councillors, including outgoing Chairperson Sara Shamba Naik Desai, ex-chairpersons Simon Rebello and Ramakant Naik Gaunkar, Vice-Chairperson Gandesh Madgaonkar, and councillors Narcisco (Nadin) Fernandes, Amita Pagi, Hemant Naik Gaunkar, Pandurang (Dhiraj) Naikgaunkar, Supriya Dessai, Nitu Dessai, and Shubham Komarpant, attended the proceedings.
Rebello, Naik Gaunkar, and Naik Desai have all previously held the post during the current term, which is expected to conclude in the first quarter of next year, giving Pagui about six months in office.
A large number of supporters and well-wishers gathered at the municipal office to congratulate Pagui, though he directed officials to cancel the planned celebrations, citing the State mourning for late Agriculture Minister and former Chief Minister Ravi Naik.
“As a mark of respect to the departed leader of the masses, we will not celebrate the election,” said Pagui.
He added that his priority would be to tackle garbage management issues within the municipal jurisdiction.
“I will continue from where outgoing Chairperson Sara Naik Desai left off and focus on resolving the garbage issue by obtaining additional compactors and related equipment,” he said
