Davorlim Sarpanch Menino Colaco is congratulated by Navelim ZP member Cipru Cardozo and Aquem Baixo Sarpanch Floriano Danny Fernandes after the no-confidence motion on Tuesday.
MARGAO
The BJP leadership was left red-faced and embarrassed again on Tuesday after the party-backed members not only failed the "loyalty test" but also saw its plan to dislodge newly-elected Davorlim Sarpanch Menino Colaco come a cropper.
Even as high drama unfolded in the ruling camp ahead of the no-confidence motion against Colaco on Tuesday, the Sarpanch remained firmly in the saddle after he survived the motion, as the BJP could not muster the numbers to dislodge him from office.
As it turned out, the saffron party could not gather enough support to pass the no-confidence motion against the Sarpanch after the party-backed members decided to stay away from the meeting, apparently for want of numbers, leaving the motion defeated.
The result is considered a significant setback for the ruling BJP, as it is understood that senior party leaders, including ministers, had intervened to save the day for the party in Davorlim, but in vain.
In fact, at least two ministers were believed to have contacted the "doubtful" Panchayat members to ensure the smooth passage of the no-confidence motion against Colaco, but they could not prevent the embarrassment.
What apparently hindered the BJP from regaining control over the Davorlim Panchayat was the absence of Panch member and former Sarpanch Santosh Naik. One of the signatories to the motion, Naik is believed to have gone out of station, leaving the BJP camp in the 11-member body high and dry.
The BJP camp had witnessed an uproar last week after Colaco was elected as the new Davorlim Sarpanch with 7-4 votes. The election result only highlighted that the BJP camp had been hit by cross-voting, resulting in the defeat of the party's candidate Vidhyadhar Verlekar.
In a bid to prove the loyalty of the party-backed panchayat members, the party leadership got the seven members to sign the no-confidence motion just two hours after the major setback on Friday, apparently hoping that they would put aside their differences and pass the motion, but in vain.
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Sarpanch Colaco firmly in the saddle
Colaco was all smiles as the no-confidence motion fizzled out on Tuesday morning.
"I had told the media that I have confidence in all the seven panchayat members who voted in my favour in the election. And the members had confidence in me because we have formed the panchayat to do good work for the benefit of the people of Davorlim," he said.
Thanking the members who had voted him into the chair and calling for an end to politics in the panchayat body, Colaco called on all the members to join hands to work for the people of Davorlim, including the Scheduled Tribes and the downtrodden.
"Because of the unity among the members and in the interest of village development, the no-confidence motion stands defeated," he added.
Questioning the BJP's decision to table the no-confidence motion against him just two hours after his election, Colaco said, "The BJP members should have given me some time to prove myself in the panchayat body. I should have been given at least one year to do something for the village. But they preferred to table the no-confidence motion against me just two hours after my election."
