MARGAO
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai has said that the victory of Ganashyam Shirodkar for the post of Margao Municipal Council Chairperson is a befitting response from self-respecting Goemkars to BJP’s politics of betrayal and backstabbing.
Making his presence in the Margao Municipal hall immediately after Ganashyam defeated the BJP-backed candidate in the election, Sardesai reminded that Margao is known for the host of revolutions seen in the State’s pre and post Liberation era, and Friday’s victory is a signal over the state of things to come in the State in the future.
Warning the government against any attempt to destabilise the Margao Municipal Council through a no-confidence motion, Sardesai said the government should respect the mandate of the people.
Summing up the victory of Independent candidate Ganashyam Shirodkar, Sardesai said “Ganashyam won the election with the initiative of the Goa Forward, help from the Congress Hand and the sentiments in favour of late Manohar Parrikar. Above all, Goa was with us throughout.”
Saying he does not rule out the possibility of a no-confidence motion against the newly-elected MMC chairperson, Sardesai said he had entered into an alliance with Digambar Kamat to keep the BJP at bay in the MMC in tune with the sentiments of the people of Margao and Fatorda. “Today, Kamat is with the BJP, but the sentiment is still prevailing in the city. A similar sentiment is prevailing in the State despite this politics of dadagiri. Instead of making any attempts to dislodge the new chairperson, the Chief Minister should do well to save the city from crumbling. If possible, the MMC building should be shifted to the spacious land near Shetye’s steel and make it disable and people-friendly,” he said, adding the Goa Forward decided to back Independent Ganashyam only after Kamat joined the BJP on Wednesday.
To a question, Sardesai said the Goa Forward will announce its plan in Margao after the inauspicious period of Pitru Paksha. “Today, God is with those who have won the election and not with those who had joined the BJP in the night. The Chief Minister was in Margao Thursday night for two hours to get the BJP victory. He should have come to clear the pending files pertaining to many projects,” he said.
Reminding that Margao is a capital that has led many a revolution in the State, Sardesai said the city will once again take a lead to free Goa from the politics of dadagiri and betrayal.
