CANACONA
Tension prevailed in Canacona taluka after a makeshift office erected to accept entry forms of the Shigmothsav floats at Char-Rasta was found dug on all four sides early Thursday morning.
Miscreants had excavated mud surrounding the pandal erected in the paddy fields at Char-Rasta sometime between Wednesday night and the wee hours of Thursday, from where the Shigmosthav floats were to start their journey on Thursday evening.
There were speculations that the planned Shigmothsav floats parade could be postponed or cancelled for the day and a police team stood guard at Char-Rasta since morning, anticipating a law and order problem.
Adding to the tension, working chairman of Canacona Shigmothsav committee and former Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) chairperson Rajendra Dessai openly revolted against the Shigmo organisers for ignoring him in organizational affairs.
“I was not taken into confidence to finalize/invite participants nor was I consulted over the list of those to be felicitated during the Shigmothsav function,” a visibly displeased Dessai told media persons.
“I strongly protest such humiliating treatment, which has been meted out to me for first time in my public life. I served in different capacities to organize Shigmothsav floats in Canacona for the last 25 years,” said Dessai, who also happens to be a Congress leader.
Earlier at a meeting in the municipal hall, Canacona MLA and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar was elected president of Canacona Shigmothsav committee, while Rajendra Dessai was elected working president and CMC Chairperson Prathana Naik Gaunkar was elected chairperson of reception committee, besides other executive members.
Sensing trouble in the smooth organization of the float parade, some Shigmothsav committee members and well-wishers reached out to Rajendra Dssai and were seen at his residence, reportedly trying to pacify the Congress leader.
According to unconfirmed reports, Canacona BJP Block President Mahesh (Govind) Naik was reportedly appointed as working chairman of Canacona Shigmothsav committee replacing Dessai in a development late Wednesday night.
