CANACONA
In a series of swift developments, a faction within the BJP-backed group of 12 newly elected councillors has emerged as the majority group and is poised to take control of the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC).
A seven-member group of councillors was initially formed on Wednesday and with the addition of another member later in the day, the eight-member group went to Panaji to seek the blessings of Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes.
After initial hesitation, Fernandes reportedly gave his approval to the group to form the next council led by Ourem-Palolem Councillor and former CMC chairperson Simon Rebello, provided they remain loyal to the BJP, a condition which was readily accepted by the group.
It may be recalled that Fernandes had paraded all 12 newly-elected councillors before Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the BJP state leadership was given a free hand to finalise a leader to lead the council.
However, dissent began to surface after a 3-member group led by Chaudi councillor and former CMC chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar disassociated from the panel, when Fernandes shortened two frontrunners as the next chairperson. He had plans to announce the candidate after consulting the CM and BJP leadership on Wednesday.
However, a late Tuesday night drama unfolded in the absence of Fernandes when the rival faction grew from three to seven, with Rebello -- one of the candidates to have been shortlisted by Fernandes -- joining the group along with three other councillors.
Rebello is reported to have learnt that his candidature as chairperson was to be ignored and is believed to have added numbers to the rival faction to cement his position to the chairperson’s post.
The seven-member group went to the Shri Mallikarjun Temple at Shristhal on Wednesday morning, where an understanding was reached to back Rebello as CMC chairperson.
Rebello was also given the task to approach the MLA, who was busy in the budget session which got underway earlier in the day.
According to sources, the rival faction arrived at a mutual agreement that Rebello would be the chairperson for the first one-and-half year, before handing over the post to Ramakant Naikgaunkar for the next one-and-half year.
Palolem Councillor Laxuman Pagi, who was the giant killer to defeat three-term councillor and former Chairperson, Divakar Pagui, was also tipped to be given the top post for a short period of six months.
The chairperson’s post is also expected to be given to Devabhag-Palolem Councillor Sara Shamba Naik Dessai, while other arrangements were also worked out within the ruling group to ensure the smooth governance of the council.
Narcisco Fernandes, Gandesh Madgaonkar and Amita Pagui are the other members in the seven-member group.
Hemant Naikgaunkar also joined the group as they met Fernandes, who was busy during the budget session in the assembly.
However, Fernandes was not pleased over moves by the faction to seek control of CMC without his knowledge and in his absence. Rebello, however, defused the tension and resolved the matter, before a reluctant Fernandes finally accepted the group’s decision to form the next CMC council.
Group had no option, but
still loyal to MLA: Rebello
CANACONA: Insisting that their eight-member group had no option but to push ahead and claim control of the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC), Ourem-Palolem Councillor and former CMC chairperson Simon Rebello, tipped to be the next chairperson, insisted on their loyalty to Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes.
“Since our MLA had found it difficult to announce my candidature as CMC chairperson amid murmurs of resentment on communal lines, I was forced to take a different path to persuade our MLA to approve our group and enable me head the council.”
“I will always be loyal to our MLA and our move will also also absolve him of any criticism if he has to name me to lead the CMC.”
“I expect all councillors to come on board sometime later. We are not against any councillor as all had vouched their allegiance to BJP party and Canacona MLA,” Rebello added.
