MAPUSA
The BJP has cleared the name of a novice and reticent councillor of ward 10, Priya Mishal as the candidate of the ruling BJP group for the post of Chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council ignoring a more charismatic Nutan Bicholkar, who is the councillor of ward 5.
The election of the new chairperson is scheduled to be held on January 31.
Current market chairman Viraj Phadke has also been chosen to be the next vice chairperson candidate of the ruling group.
Local MLA Joshua D’Souza called a meeting of all councillors owing allegiance to the BJP including some Independents backing the ruling group and conveyed to them the choice of the party as who will be the candidates for the chairperson and the vice-chairperson posts.
The MLA informed the group that the candidates had received a green signal from the Mapusa BJP mandal and the blessings of the higher-ups in the party.
Around 12 councillors including former chairperson Shubanghi Vaigankar, Vice Chairperson Chandrashekar Benkar and Independent councillors Prakash Bhivshet and Arolkar brothers were also present for the meeting.
Two councillors “ Sainath Raul and Ashirwad Khorjuvenkar “ could not attend the meeting as they were out of the station.
Those present unanimously agreed to the choice picked by the party.
“We know that Nutan Bicholkar is a better choice to lead the council. But the party thought otherwise. We have no other alternative but to toe the party line,” a councillor of the BJP said, requesting anonymity.
Two things went in favour of councillor Priya Mishal. First, she was a councillor elected on the BJP-backed panel and secondly, she was strongly backed by the local MLA.
Nutan Bicholkar was elected on the opposition-backed panel but later joined the BJP.
Meanwhile, the opposition group is not expected to field any candidate for the top post. It appears the opposition has lost its way in the Mapusa council. Although the group has senior councillor Sudhir Kandolkar and a capable councillor Shashank Narvekar within its ranks, none are able to lead and provide a coercive and strong opposition in the council.
They do come together whenever some issues crop up, but there is no strategy within the group during the council meetings.
