the goan I network
MARGAO
Even as moves to dislodge Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai threw up a debate whether the Digambar Kamat-backed councillors will join hands with the BJP to oust the Goa Forward-backed civic chief, the Leader of the Opposition on Wednesday asserted that his six-member group of city fathers will not take any decision concerning the civic body without consulting him.
That’s not all. The Margao MLA told The Goan that he had held informal discussion with Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai on the leadership issue in the Margao civic body, adding that he would hold further discussion with his Fatorda counterpart on the matter.
When the Goan called him up to shed light on reports whether his group of councillors will join hands with the seven-member BJP group to oust MMC Chairperson Babita from office, Kamat said, “There may be many an issue in the civic body, but all I can say is that I am confident that my group of councillors will not take any decision without consulting me.”
Saying that he has not discussed the leadership issue in the civic body with his councillors, Kamat pointed out he would have a meeting with his group only after Ganesh Chaturthi.
Political observers pointed out that Kamat may not gain politically by ousting the incumbent Chairperson and that too by joining hands with the BJP, which is his principal opponent in the city. In fact, the Margao MLA is well aware that any decision by his group for short gains when the civic polls are hardly a year away by may cost him in his constituency given that he does not see to eye with the BJP.
Sources further say any decision by his group to align with the BJP to bring down the Goa Forward-controlled Margao Municipal Council may paint him in bad light given his status as Leader of the Opposition and may arm his opponents within the Congress with ammunition to gun for his head.
Speculations were rife in the Margao civic body on Tuesday that a group of 14 councillors are bracing up to table a no-confidence motion against Babita.
In the 25-member civic body, the Goa Forward has around 12 councillors, followed by the BJP with seven and the Digambar Kamat group with six.
Sources say a no-confidence motion will succeed only in the event there’s a split in the 12-member Goa Forward group and the six-member Kamat group in the
civic body extends support to the motion.
