Goa: Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council's new chairperson backed by PWD minister Nilesh Cabral

MARGAO: Jasmine Braganza was on Thursday elected chairperson of Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC), unopposed.
The election was necessitated following the resignation tendered by Vishwas Sawant from the post of chairperson after completing one year in office, in accordance with the unwritten agreement over “post rotation” arrived at by the councillors after the civic polls held last year.
Both Sawant and Braganza owe allegiance to Curchorem MLA and PWD minister Nilesh Cabral. As Braganza’s was the lone nomination to be filed by the end of the stipulated time on Wednesday, she was declared unopposed by returning officer, Nilesh Dhaigodkar, deputy collector, Quepem, at the council meeting to conduct the election on Thursday.
However, what lends intrigue to the development is that Braganza managed to get herself elected unopposed despite staunch opposition to her candidature from both sides of the council, including from Cabral loyalists.
Cabral was quick to counter the allegations of political interference. “I am only coordinating and facilitating the work of CCMC with the sole objective of development,” Cabral told reporters after the meeting. “When I am invited for the council meetings in my capacity as the MLA, I attend the meetings and we try to carry forward all development proposals.”