MARGAO
Post Diwali, the BJP city leaders will have a task at hand, how to go about shortlisting the candidate for the post of Margao Municipal vice-Chairperson.
For, a couple of BJP-backed councillors are believed to have evinced interest in contesting the polls for the post as and when it falls vacant. Though the post has not fallen vacant as yet, incumbent vice-chairperson Deepali Sawal is reported to have already submitted her resignation to Congress-turned-Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, the day then Chairperson Lyndon Pereira quit office on September 28.
While the BJP Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has been on record that the candidate for the vice-chairperson’s post will be zeroed in by the State party leaders, it is learnt that councillor Camilo Barretto has reportedly briefed party leaders of his wish to contest the poll.
Camilo has told party leaders that since the post of MMC Chairperson is occupied by councillor Damu Shirodkar, hailing from Margao constituency, the vice chief post should go to a candidate from Fatorda. He and his supporters are believed to have drawn the attention of party leaders that since the MMC chairperson hail from the majority Hindu community, the vice chief post should go to a candidate from the minority community to maintain the communal balance in the civic body.
Sources informed that two other BJP-backed councillors, one each from Margao and Fatorda areas, including a woman has also shown interest in contesting the vice chief post.
What’s interesting to note is that Camilo has preferred to raise the controversial issue of kabrastan at the Margao Municipal Council on Wednesday, throwing up questions about whether the BJP councillor had raised the issue with the party leaders before highlighting the issue at the council meeting.
Sources pointed out that the issue of the MMC Vice-Chairperson’s post is expected to take the centre stage post-Diwali festivities since a section of the ruling councillors want a change of guard at the vice chief post.
