MARGAO
The political storm that hit the BJP-controlled Margao Municipal Council, triggered by threat held out by civic chief Damu Shirodkar to quit office on Monday, seemed to have finally blown away.
After the uproar on Saturday when the MMC chairperson threatened to quit on Monday for what he termed as being sidelined and ignored by the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, both Digambar and Damu had a meeting at a city hotel on Sunday to resolve the issue.
During the meeting, the MLA is believed to have removed the misconception from the mind of the MMC chief that he had no intention to keep him away from the meeting he had with MMC officials, including Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar on Saturday. In fact, Digambar told Damu that he should not press for his resignation, but continue in office and concentrate in discharging his duties as the Margao civic chief.
On his part, Damu, sources said, that he was deeply hurt over the MLA’s meeting with civic officials in his absence, saying it would send a wrong impression to the officials and staff of the civic body.
He is believed to have told the MLA that he had made up his mind to tender his resignation after the MLA did not invite him for the meeting with the officials. Kamat, however, is believed to have downplayed the meeting with civic officials, saying it was not a formal meeting, but that he had arranged lunch for the officials and staff as the inspections got over late Saturday noon.
When contacted to shed light on his meeting with the Margao MLA on Sunday noon, Damu confirmed that he had a meeting with the MLA along with a councillor. “The MLA informed that he had no intention to insult or ignore me by not inviting me for the meeting with civic officials. I have accepted the MLA’s explanation and hence decided not to forward my resignation to the office of Director of Municipal administration,” Damu said.
The Margao civic chief is believed to have conveyed to the Margao MLA that he is not interested in presiding over the affairs of the civic body in the event any attempt is made to sideline or belittle him in the functioning of the Municipality.
Sources said the Margao MLA also discussed the government’s decision to cancel the recruitment to the 43 posts of eight LDCs, 34 workers and a mason, assuring the civic chief that the government will rollback the decision on Monday.
