Accuse chairperson of bypassing proper procedures
MAPUSA
Dissatisfied with the leadership of Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Nutan Bicholkar, a majority group of 11 councillors (G11) walked out of a council meeting on Monday, citing allegations of illegal recruitment of staff on a contract basis.
The councillors accused the chairperson of bypassing proper procedures to recruit six staff members and suggested the possibility of a “jobs-for-cash” scandal.
They also alleged that some of the appointees were relatives of the chairperson, further fuelling the controversy.
The council meeting, initially convened on October 30, had been adjourned twice previously due to heated debates on the same issue.
The third attempt to hold the meeting on Monday also turned contentious, with intense discussions between Chairperson Bicholkar and the councillors.
Bicholkar refused to table the recruitment file, citing that the matter was "sub-judice" as an individual had challenged the recruitment decision before the Director of Urban Development.
This explanation did not sit well with the councillors, with Councillor Shashank Narvekar arguing that the Director of Urban Development is not a judicial authority.
Narvekar accused the chairperson of misleading the council and the people of Mapusa, claiming she had no moral authority to continue in her position.
"The petition is not against the council but against the chairperson and the Chief Officer," he stated, adding that the recruited staff should not be paid salaries until the matter is resolved.
Councillor Prakash Bhivshet echoed these sentiments, stating, "The chairperson is unfit for her role. She is pushing decisions to higher authorities instead of resolving them for the benefit of Mapusa residents."
Councillor Tarak Arolkar criticized the recruitment process as illegal and accused the chairperson of acting dictatorially.
Several other councillors, including Shubhangi Vaigankar and Viraj Phadke, criticized Bicholkar for her perceived arrogance and unwillingness to engage with other councillors.
The walkout involved both ruling and opposition councillors, including Shubhangi Vaigankar, Prakash Bhivshet, Tarak Arolkar, Viraj Phadke and Vikas Arolkar from the ruling group, as well as Shashank Narvekar, Anand Bhaidkar, Sudhir Kandolkar, Anvi Korgaonkar, Komal D’Souza and Kayle Braganza from the opposition.
Separately, the council also deferred discussions on the transfer of lease agreements for stalls in the municipal market, as councillors sought clarifications regarding a government notification on the matter.
This escalating conflict has left the functioning of the Mapusa Municipal Council in turmoil, with councillors demanding accountability and transparency from its leadership.
