the goan I network
VASCO
Confusion and suspense prevailed over the no-confidence motion moved against Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar and Vice-chairperson Shashikant Parab on Friday, amid one ruling panel councillor’s absence and the presiding officer’s delayed decision to declare the motion passed against both Gaonkar
and Parab.
Even though 24 of the 25 councillors were present at the special meeting, Gaonkar was declared to have been defeated by 12-0 votes by secret ballot, while Parab was defeated by 13-0 through a show of hands.
Shashank Tripathi, Commissioner of Panaji Municipal Corporation, was the presiding officer and Siddhivinayak Naik Chief Officer of Margao Municipal Council was the link officer for the special meeting.
The special meeting saw several moments of commotion and confusion. No sooner the meeting began, both the panels were allotted time to speak on no-confidence motion. Though the opposition panel did not speak, the MMC Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar said allegations made against him were baseless. He said elections were just a number game and either panels had won only on the basis of one vote which changed the scenario of the majority.
Sandesh Mesta, who was earlier the part of the ruling panel, was sitting amidst the opposition panel. After the meeting began, there was chaos over the voting system.
While the presiding officer Tripathi called for voting by raising of hands, the ruling panel demanded voting using secret ballot alleging that some of the councillors of the opposition panel were being pressurized.
Though the opposition panel insisted that votes be counted by raising of hands, the presiding officer agreed to vote using the ballot system.
However, despite demanding the voting by ballot system, the 11 ruling panel members abstained from voting and all the 13 opposition councillors cast their votes.
Just before the presiding officer could announce the results, MMC Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar demanded that he should be allowed to check the ballots.
When the votes were checked, one ballot paper was found marked with a pen instead of a marker which was provided. Gaonkar claimed that this was an indication that one of the councillors from the opposition panel was being pressurized and had indicated it by voting with a pen.
Gaonkar demanded that the vote be taken as invalid and maintained that the opposition panel could not prove the majority against him as there were only 12 valid votes and the number of votes required to prove the no-confidence motion against him was 13.
However, presiding officer said that the motion was passed and the final decision would be taken later after the meeting.
The fate of the Chairperson lay in suspense even as the opposition panel insisted that 13 councillors had voted for passing the motion. The opposition also insisted that the vote on which pen marking was found was also against the Chairperson.
The presiding officer called for show of hands to decided the motion against Vice Chairperson Shashikant Parab. Again, Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar demanded ballot system, but the presiding officer ruled out the demand.
Thirteen councillors raised their hands to vote out Parab, while the ruling panel said they had boycotted the election. The suspense on the final decision of the no-confidence motion against Gaonkar came out only after a closed-door meeting of over one hour.
Finally, it was announce that the motion against Gaonkar had been passed by 12 to 0 votes and Parab by 13 to 0 votes.
Tripathi later said that he had prepared the minutes of the meeting to be submitted to the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA).
Ex-chairperson hits out at ruling councillors for ruckus
VASCO: Insisting that the vote of the councillor using a pen was valid, former Mormugao Municipal Council chairperson Deepak Naik said the ruling panel had become selfish and had made a joke out of the IAS officer Shashank Tripathi who was the presiding officer for the special meeting to decide on the no-confidence motion against MMC Chairperson and Vice-chairperson.
“They are just worried about being in power. There was only a technical error that one of the councillors used a pen instead of a marker but he has voted correctly and not made any mistakes. When they have demanded the voting by ballot, they should have voted but they have not as they have no confidence in their own councillors. Also, they did not allow any member to vote. The vote of the councillor using a pen is definitely a valid one and the DMA will decide on it. What is upsetting is that despite the presiding officer declaring the motion as passed, Gaonkar is still occupying the chair. Gaonkar cannot occupy the chair or go in the cabin after the presiding officer has said that the motion is passed. What the DMA decides is secondary, but he cannot occupy the chair anymore for now,” Naik said.
“The ruling panel insisted that voting be done using the ballot system, though the procedure is show of hands. Though the presiding officer agreed to allow voting by ballot and we did not object, the members of the ruling panel did not vote despite demanding it. They made a joke out of an IAS officer. This council is selfish. Be reminded that councillors are elected by the people and we are in a democratic country. This council is already having allegations against them of being corrupt,” he said.
Presiding officer says motion passed, will place minutes before DMA
VASCO: Shashank Tripathi, the presiding officer for the special meeting to decide the no-confidence motion moved against MMC Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar and Vice-chairperson Shashikant Parab on Friday afternoon, informed reporters that though one vote was taken as invalid, the count of valid votes for the motion was 12 while the ruling panel had abstained from voting.
“A special meeting was convened on Friday to decide on the no-confidence motion moved by 13 councillors against the MMC Chairperson and Vice-chairperson as per the DMA order. The meeting was convened and all the councillors were given a chance to speak for and against the motion and then vote. In all, 13 votes were polled. However, one ballot was found marked in pen and hence 12 votes were found valid and hence the motion was passed,” Tripathi said.
He explained, “For the motion to be passed, the voting was done by show of hands. All 13 councillors raised their hands. The remaining councillors, who were present, abstained from voting and as such did not raise their hands. I have prepared the minutes and I will present these to the Director of Municipal Administration.”
