Councillors rubbish rumours of split
CANACONA: Denying rumours that two women councillors from the five-member ruling group of Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) were likely to switch sides, the five ruling councillors said they were firmly united and would be so till the end of their term.
All the five councillors of the ruling group of CMC, consisting of CMC Chairperson Prathana Naik Gaunkar, Deputy Chairperson Samita Dhuri, Chaya Komarpant, Divakar Pagui and Shamsunder Dessai displayed their unity at a news conference in Canacona on Monday.
According to reports, strong rumors were doing the rounds that two women councillors were on the verge of switching sides.
It may be recalled that the five-member ruling councillors that won both posts of chairperson and deputy chairperson by draw of lots had openly vowed their allegiance to former Canacona BJP MLA Vijay Poi Khot.
The five-member opposition group in the 10-member council had strongly pledged their support to Canacona MLA and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, paving way for strong differences in the council.
While Tawadkar has publicly stated that the CMC has never approached him for any government support, the ruling group has countered by arguing that the minister never cared for development in the municipality and had been playing spoilsport on any given developmental issue.
During the news conference, Gaunkar strongly denied such moves of a split in their group.
“On the contrary, we are firmly united and will be so till end of our term,” she said.
Samita Dhuri then claimed that an opposition councillor had already vouched his support to them.
She said further, “A seventh councillor will be joining us on the eve of the next assembly elections. The name will be divulged at the appropriate time,” said Dhuri.
Prathana Naik Gaunkar added that a rotation of posts would take place, once the ruling group is in clear majority.
“Our group will be swelling to seven councillors shortly and accordingly, we will rotate the posts of chairperson and deputy chairperson, once we have clear majority,” she added.
