Daijiworld Media Network - Khola

Khola, May 28: In a display of internal consensus and power-sharing, Pragnya Kamat was elected unopposed as the new Sarpanch of Khola panchayat on Tuesday, becoming the fourth person to hold the post during the current three-year term.

Her election came after the resignation of outgoing Sarpanch Priyanka Velip, who stepped down two weeks ago under a mutual rotation agreement among the ruling panchayat members. Kamat was the only member to file her nomination and was unanimously chosen by seven of the nine panchas present at a specially convened meeting.

The BJP-backed Khola panchayat has seen a structured rotation of leadership since the last elections, with all seven ruling members agreeing to share the positions of Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch during their term. Prior to Kamat’s appointment, the role was held by Ajay Pagui, Krishna Velip, and most recently, Priyanka Velip.

After her unopposed election, Pragnya Kamat received congratulatory visits from BJP leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP State Vice-President Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar, as well as South Goa District President Prabhakar Gaonkar, who extended their best wishes for her tenure.

Kamat’s elevation continues the trend of collaborative leadership in the panchayat, which has drawn attention for its rotating leadership model aimed at inclusive governance.