MARGAO
A day after the BJP leadership put up a show of strength at the Margao Shigmotsav, dissension in the ruling Margao Municipal Council was evident on Sunday over the organisation of Shigmotsav.
In fact, BJP councillor Mahesh Amonkar directed his tirade on Margao civic chief Damu Shirodkar, accusing the chairperson for functioning in an arrogant manner with colleague councillors, even driving home the message that the party leadership should tame the chairperson before things go out of control in the civic body.
Amonkar took offence to the fact that while the Margao civic chief was seated on the dais along with wife, demanded to know why the spouses of remaining councillors were not made to accommodate on the dais and were accommodated downstairs.
He also took strong exception to the Margao civic chief’s decision to stop ex-councillor Avinash Shirodkar from taking the dais, demanding to know why Avinash was not allowed on the dais when many a former councillors were seated there. “I have brought to the notice of the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat over the style of functioning of the civic chief. I will also bring the situation to the notice of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other party leaders,” he said, while saying that the Margao MLA Kamat, who returned to the State after a vacation in the UK had no role to play in the organisation of the Shigmotsav in the city on Saturday.
“It was not the question of my family that was not given a seat on the dais. My family is ready to sit anywhere, but the chairperson should know how to behave with colleague councillors,” he said.
He added: The Margao MLA must have made Damu Shirodkar the chairperson because of his commitment. But, there is no such thing as committee since the ruling group is yet to take a call on the post of vice-chairperson till date.”
Another ruling councillor stays away from Shigmotsav
MARGAO: Another ruling Margao Municipal councillor who stayed away from the Margao Shigmotsav on Saturday was Goa Forward-turned-BJP councillor Raju Naik, but for a different reason.
The councillor-representing Pajifond stayed away from the Shigmotsav celebrations for the reason that the organisers did not accommodate his core workers in the organisation of the floats.
Unlike councillor Mahesh Amonkar, who directed his ire at the MMC chief Damu Shirodkar, Raju gave a clean chit to the civic chief but blamed some leaders for neglecting his workers.
“Normally, the organisers distributed the kurtas and other costumes to the workers of the city fathers so that they too are part of the organization. However, in my case, some leaders deliberately neglected my workers since they did not appreciate my move to return back to the BJP fold,” Raju said.
He, however, said he does not want to blame the MMC chief Damu Shirodkar behind his episode.
