MAPUSA
Stating that people have given a mandate to the opposition panel in the election to the Mapusa Municipal Council, the Congress on Wednesday slammed the BJP for using money and muscle power to split the opposition panel in a bid to form the council in Mapusa.
“In recent civic election in Mapusa, we have seen that Mapxekars have rejected the BJP model and voted the opposition panel. Around 68 per cent of Mapusa voters voted against the BJP since they have seen that there has been no development in the city for the last 25 years,” said Vijay Bhike, President, North Goa Congress Committee.
He said the BJP tried to manipulate the ward reservations in Mapusa to favour its men but they failed after Congress along with the opposition successfully fought the battle in the Supreme Court.
He further said Anand Bhaidkar who successfully contested from Ward 1 is a member of the Congress and the party had supported him in the civic election.
He also claimed that some of the Mapusa block members also supported Independent candidate Prakash Bhivshet in Ward 20.
“BJP is using money and muscle power to drive a wedge in the opposition panel. The CM and the leaders of BJP are threatening the councillors with cases and to transfer their family members who are working as government employees,” he alleged.
He said the opposition councillors should not fall to the BJP trap and respect the people’s mandate.
“Going against the mandate and joining BJP will not keep them happy. The Congress along with the ward people will protest against these councillors who defect to BJP. We will also make sure that the council meeting doesn’t take place until these defected councillors resign from the ward for betraying their voters,” Bhike said.
He said these councillors should resign from their wards and contest on BJP’s symbol.
