the goan I network
MARGAO
While the opposition group claimed that the no-trust motion was entered in the DMA’s office at around 11.30 am on Friday, the ruling group told the media on Saturday that they have faxed a letter to the DMA with a plea not to take cognizance of the notice of the no-confidence motion since the seven-member ruling group are all together and united under the leadership of former Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao.
What’s interesting to note is that two of the signatories to the motion Vice-chairperson Mario Moraes and councillor Shashank Desai in the letter faxed to the DMA’s office had stated that the no-confidence motion is incorrect and against the interest of the council. Given the weekend holidays, it could not be immediately confirmed whether the notice was entered in the office of the DMA on Friday.
Cuncolim MLA Rajan Naik said the DMA office is bound to take cognizance of the notice of no-confidence motion and set in motion the process to call a meeting to discuss and decide on it. “The ruling group may now say that the notice was not entered in the DMA office on Friday. But the opposition group had indeed entered the notice in the DMA office at around 11.30 am since the motion was
signed by Mario and Shashank along with five members of the opposition group,” the MLA said.
BJP has nothing to do with instability in CMC: Rajan
MARGAO: Cuncolim MLA Rajan Naik has hit out at the Joaquim Alemao group for blaming the BJP for the instability in the Cuncolim Municipal Council.
Speaking to The Goan on Sunday, the MLA admitted that the five opposition members in the CMC had signed the no-confidence motion against Chairperson Lavita Mascarenhas, but hastened to add that the move was initiated by CMC Vice-chairperson Mario Moraes. “If one takes a glance at the notice of no-confidence motion, one would find that the first two signatories are the ruling councillors, Shashank Desai and Mario Moraes. This only goes to show who had initiated the move to dislodge the chairperson,” he said.
Moreover, Rajan said that it was Mario who had made certain changes on the notice of no-confidence in his own hand writing, adding that this only goes to show that Mario was closely involved in initiating the no-confidence motion.
The Cuncolim MLA’s reaction assumes significance
and come against the backdrop of accusations made by Joaquim Alemao and Mario that thè BJP had
pressurised the ruling councillors to sign on the no-confidence motion.
