MARGAO
Will the saffron flag fly atop the Margao Municipal building after a gap of 17 long years with Cong-turned-BJP MLA Digambar Kamat leading from the front to get his Man Friday Damu Shirodkar at the helm of Margao Municipal Council?
Or, will the Goa Forward Party and like-minded Councilors put up an united front to checkmate Kamat and the BJP from forming the Council on Friday?
These and a host of questions have come to the fore on the eve of the election of the Margao Municipal Chairperson scheduled on Friday as the battle lines seemed finally drawn. The election has assumed significance and comes against the backdrop of Thursday’s political developments that unfolded in the State that has realigned forces and groups in the Civic body.
On paper, Kamat’s entry into the BJP on the eve of the MMC Chairperson election should ensure smooth sailing for the BJP to cross the magic figure of 13 members in the 25-member Civic body. For, BJP’s nine Councilors and Kamat’s seven Councilors will take the tally of the group in the Civic body to 16, offering a comfortable position for the candidature of Damu Shirodkar.
On the other hand, Independent Councilor Ganashyam Shirodkar, who was proposed by three BJP-backed Councilors before the political developments unfolded in the city on Thursday, has now received the backing of the eight Goa Forward-backed Councilors. This became evident when two Goa Forward-backed Councilors Raju Naik and Vitorino Tavares have proposed Ganashyam’s candidature just before the process of nomination papers drew to a close on Thursday noon.
Political observers, however, have sounded caution for the two camps, warning that the numbers games may change on Friday, with the ghost of cross voting coming to haunt the two groups.
No doubt, sources say the BJP leadership has endorsed Kamat’s candidate Damu Shirodkar for the post following Thursday’s political developments, but questions are raised whether the Councilors will go by the party diktat, more so since some of them had made commitments to Ganashyam before Kamat’s entry into the party.
Political observers say Friday’s election for the MMC Chairperson’s post is an acid test for Digambar Kamat and the BJP alike to ensure the Lotus blooms in the Civic body after a gap of 17 years. Even the BJP leadership may be anxiously waiting for Kamat to use his political acumen and experience to reach the magic figure of 13.
The last time the Council was under the BJP rule was 17 years ago when Kamlini Painginkar had presided over the affairs before Kamat moved into the Congress in 2005.
Sources say the Goa Forward and like-minded Councilors have accepted the gauntlet of the Kamat-BJP combine in the Civic body. Sources say Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai has personally taken charge of the situation in a bid to checkmate the Kamat-BJP combine and ensure the victory of Independent candidate Ganashyam Shirodkar.
