log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2026 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 242 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 15 2 8 UTAA declared alliance of 8 CCP battle lines drawn; Utpal bodies; 2022 polls quashed panel to take on Team Babush Pollution Board orders sweeping review of 296 ECs across sectors GOA Cross-party unity in Cuncolim over fish meal plant row LIFE From first fruit to last drop: Goa hopes for extended Urrak season SPORTS T20 WC: Dube, Varun keep India unbeaten for Super Eight Inspector General of Societies directs appointment of Administrator; fresh elections within 90 days PARRIKAR FRONTS ‘AMI PANJEKAR’ PANEL TO CHALLENGE MONSERRATE’S ‘ONE-MAN RULE’ IN MARCH 11 POLLS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The battle lines for the March 11 Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) elections have been drawn. Revenue Minister Babush Monserrate’s panel will face a direct challenge from Ami Panjekar, a new citizens’ for‑ mation with Utpal Parrikar steering it. The announce‑ ment has set the stage for a high‑stakes contest in the cap‑ ital. Utpal, son of the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, addressed a press conference on Wednesday to announce the panel alongwith former mayor Surendra Furtado, ex‑councillor Menino D’Cruz, Vaidehi Naik and Dattaprasad Naik. He said the panel was formed to free Panaji from Monserrate’s “one‑man rule” and to deliver better civic amenities. “We have support from peo‑ ple of all ideologies. Our fight is to give Panaji residents the facilities they deserve,” he de‑ „„Ami Panjekar unveiled per municipal law; revenue with cross-party backutilisation under scrutiny ing with support from „„Flags civic issues Congress leaders such as parking including Menino THE crunch, pollution, D’Cruz and PANAJI and incomplete Surendra CITIZENS' Smart City Furtado works PANEL „„Names „„Utpal claims finalised, to be he secured announced close significant support to nomination deadin the 2022 Assemline to avoid 'pressure bly election despite or inducements' limited campaign „„Panel promises time strict action as clared. The panel's logo and banner was formally launched, with Parrikar stressing that Ami Panjekar enjoys backing from multiple political bases, in‑ cluding Congress supporters. Menino D’Cruz, currently with Congress, has joined the panel, while Furtado, who has had differences with Ut‑ pal in the past, also extended support. “We are united against Monserrate’s mismanage‑ ment,” Utpal said. Strategically, the panel has decided to keep candidate names under wraps until the last date for filing nomina‑ tions. Utpal explained that early announcements could expose candidates to pressure or in‑ Cong to back Utpal’s ‘Ami Panjekar’ panel PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has announced an alliance with the “Ami Panjekar” panel floated by Utpal Parrikar for the upcoming City Corporation of Panaji elections scheduled on March 11. The Congress’ Panaji and Taleigao block committees, at a meeting held on Wednesday, resolved to extend support to the Ami Panaji panel, which has projected former mayor Surendra Furtado as its mayoral face.  >> See pg 5 ducements. “Names are finalised, but we will declare them at the right time,” he said. On casinos, Parrikar prom‑ ised decisions strictly in line with municipal law. He said revenue from casinos must be used properly and that the CCP has the authority to reg‑ ulate or even shut them if re‑ quired. He also highlighted Pana‑ ji’s pressing problems – park‑ ing shortages, pollution, and incomplete Smart City works – pledging to address them through transparent govern‑ ance. Reflecting on his independ‑ ent run in the 2022 assembly election, Utpal noted that de‑ spite limited time, he had se‑ cured significant support. “People of Panaji trust me. This time, with Ami Panjekar, we will win the CCP elec‑ tions,” he asserted. With Monserrate confident of his own panel’s strength, the emergence of Ami Pan‑ jekar has injected fresh inter‑ est in the run up to the March 11 CCP election. Panaji’s civic polls are now seemingly set on the cliched Monserrate v/s Parrikar lines and will be a closely watched contest. THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO In an interesting develop‑ ment, the Inspector General of Societies, South Goa, Suraj Vernekar, has held that the United Tribal Association Alli‑ ance (UTAA) is an alliance of eight associations. In an order, the Inspector General of Societies has set aside the election of the exec‑ utive council held on Septem‑ ber 30, 2022, and has ordered a fresh election for the trienni‑ al term 2025–2028. While disposing of the complaint filed by a group of complainants, including the Gawada, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar Federation, the All Goa Scheduled Tribes Union and the Tribal Welfare Organ‑ isation, the Inspector General has decided to submit a re‑ port to the government rec‑ ommending the appointment of an Administrator under Section 20AA of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Goa Amendment Act, 2023). The order states that the Administrator shall conduct fresh elections for the trien‑ nial term 2025–2028 within 90 days from the date of appoint‑ ment. The election is required to be held in accordance with the society’s by-laws. „„Fresh elections elections within 90 days ordered for the of appointment 2025–2028 „„Mandatory triennial term 30 clear days’ IG OF „„IG to SOCIETIES’ notice to be recommend issued to all ORDER appointment of eight alliance an Administrator associations under Section before convening 20AA of the Societies the general council Registration Act (Goa „„Election to be held Amendment Act, 2023) strictly as per the society’s „„Administrator to conduct by-laws The order further stated that the Administrator so ap‑ pointed shall issue 30 clear days’ notice to all eight alli‑ ance associations of the soci‑ ety to convene a special meet‑ ing of the general council to elect a new executive council for the triennial term 2025– 2028. Disposing of the com‑ plaints dated June 9, 2025, seeking declaration, cancel‑ lation of the executive council and a permanent injunction, Vernekar said the respond‑ ents, comprising Prakash Velip, Durgadas Gaude and Nanu Bandolkar, had failed to rebut the case of the com‑ plainants. “If they had issued notice to all members of the association, they would have placed it on record. This clearly proves that the basic requirement of 30 clear days’ notice was not complied with. On this ground alone, the election allegedly held on September 30, 2022, deserves to be set aside,” Vernekar added. It was the case of the complainants that no annual general body meeting of UTAA was held on September 30, 2022, to elect a new executive council of the society. They further claimed that they had never received the mandatory 30 clear >Continued on P9