the goan I network
VASCO
With the BJP left in an embarrassing position as rival BJP-backed panels are locked in an intense power struggle in the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant made yet another attempt on Wednesday to broker a truce among the rival groups.
According to highly placed sources, Dr Sawant had convened a meeting of BJP-backed councillors along with Vasco MLA and KTC Chairman Carlos Almeida and Mormugao MLA and Urban Development Minister Milind Naik on Wednesday afternoon.
“The meeting was convened at the CM’s residence in Panaji at 3 pm and the meeting lasted for around two hours. All BJP-backed councillors, including chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar, were present along with Almeida and Naik,” said the source.
With Kritesh Gaonkar recently reinstated as MMC chairperson as per an order by the Urban Development Minister, the opposition panel backed by Almeida was determined to file a second no-confidence motion against Gaonkar. The chief minister was eager to resolve the differences between the rival BJP-backed groups and save the party further embarrassment.
“The meeting, however, yielded no result as both parties were at loggerheads on all possible solutions offered to them. Both parties were told to arrive at a compromise, but the Almeida-backed panel was not ready to do so.”
“One solution even included the option of having the chairperson from one panel and the vice chairperson from the other panel and vice versa. The councillors were also advised to manage the council as one united BJP-backed panel.”
“After the Almeida-led panel refused to budge, Dr Sawant finally gave all councillors an ultimatum of 24 hours to work out a solution so that issues could be resolved amicably among them by Thursday,” the source added.
The chief minister is also reported to have requested the Almeida-backed panel not to move a no-confidence motion against Gaonkar till the matter is resolved among both panels.
It may be recalled that The Goan in its report on May 26, had highlighted the deep rift among Almeida and Naik, who have been engaged in a proxy war at the MMC.
The battle lines were drawn between Almeida and Naik and their respective panels, when 13 councillors affiliated to Vasco MLA and KTC Chairman Carlos Almeida moved a no-confidence motion against the MMC Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar and his Deputy Shashikant Parab from the panel backed by Mormugao MLA and Urban Development Minister Milind Naik.
The no-confidence motion had drawn attention of many BJP senior leaders,
including CM Dr Pramod Sawant, who unsuccessfully tried to intervene and get the motion withdrawn.
