the goan I network
MARGAO
Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias’ visit to the Cuncolim Municipal Council on Thursday to discuss the issue of sopo vendors brought the MLA and councillor Mario Moraes face to face over powers and rights of MLAs and the City Fathers.
The slug fest between the duo took place right in the chamber of CMC Chairperson Kiran Naik when the MLA had come to discuss the issue of the sopo vendors.
While councillor Mario insisted that the MLA has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of the civic body, saying the MLA should be more concerned with legislative work, Clafacio shot back saying he had taken up many an issue plaguing Cuncolim upon complaints received from the citizens.
Mario then claimed that a municipal chairperson is at par with the state’s Chief Minister and the councilors with MLAs given that they are members of self-governing bodies.
To this, the Cuncolim MLA hit back saying he is hearing for the first time that a municipal chairperson enjoys the powers of a Chief Minister.
Said Mario to the media, “A municipality is a local self-governing body. Chairperson and councillors are responsible for any actions, good or bad. I have no objection if the MLA takes up issues of the town, but he cannot interfere in the council’s affairs.”
Countering Mario’s arguments, the Cuncolim MLA said he did not come to play any role in the council affairs, but to clean up the market and take up other issues.
“As an MLA, I have full right to take up any public issue. I have not come to the civic body with any wrong intention. Since the chairperson did not come for the market inspection, I have come to the civic body to discuss the issue of the sopo vendors,” he added.
“I have taken up a host of issues affecting Cuncolim with the CM. To execute these works, I need NOC from the civic body and I have only requested the chairperson to extend the necessary cooperation,” the MLA said.
Chairperson Kiran declined to comment on the row between the MLA and the councillor, but said that since the council meeting is scheduled on October 23, he will place the sopo vendors issue for discussion and
action.
