NT Reporter
Ponda
Manish Naik was elected unopposed as sarpanch of Curti-Khandepar panchayat following an assurance by state BJP president Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik to the BJP-supporting panel.
Six of the 11 panchayat members were present for the election. Former sarpanch Naved Tehsildar expressed confidence that the six-member group would unite behind its candidate.
Soon after the election, the six members met the Damu in the presence of Ponda Municipal Council councillor Ritesh Naik. Ritesh played a key role, alongside the BJP state president, in bridging differences within the group.
However, the absence of BJP mandal president and panchayat member Haresh Naik from the election has raised questions about the panel’s unity amid reported differences over the new sarpanch.
