MARGAO
Curtains finally came down on the year-and-half-long Margao Civic Alliance promoted and supported by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and Fatorda MLA and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai with Margao Municipal Council Vice-Chairperson Doris Texeira tendering her resignation from the post on Friday.
Accompanied by councillors owing allegiance to the Digambar Kamat-led Model Margao, Doris submitted her resignation in the office of the Director of Municipal Administration on Friday noon.
Doris told The Goan that she has quit the post on personal reasons adding there was no coercion from any quarter to resign from the post. The Goan, however, understands that Doris quit the post after TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat asked her to put in her papers in the changing political situation in the 25-member Municipal body. Doris had told the media in the last few days that she would quit the post only after both Vijai and Kamat ask her to do so.
When The Goan contacted Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to comment on the parting of ways between his Model Margao group and Vijai Sardesai’s Fatorda Forward ruling the Margao Municipal Council since November 2015, he said that the changing political situation in the State has brought about a change in the Municipal body. “Things underwent a change when the Congress fielded a candidate against Vijai Sardesai in Fatorda constituency in the 2017 Assembly election. The ground reality changed after March 11 when the Goa Forward party opted to be part of the coalition with the BJP,” Digambar said.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, on the other hand, pointed out that there’s no rationale to continue the alliance with Margao MLA Digambar Kamat’s group in the Margao civic body after the Goa Forward party joined hands with the BJP to form the new government headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. “I cannot be a part of the Margao Civic Alliance with Congress MLA Digambar Kamat when I am a part of the BJP-led Manohar Parrikar government and a member of the NDA alliance,” he said.
Sources said that Doris was expected to put in her papers on Friday after she was told by Vijai Sardesai on Thursday evening after the government constituted the South Goa Planning and Development Authority with Goa Forward President Dr Renuka Da Silva as the president.
Replying to a question on the successor with Doris quitting the post, the TCP Minister said that the Fatorda Forward will choose the successor at the earliest, while not ruling out the possibility of senior two-time councillor and ST leader Tito Cardozo succeeding Doris on the MMC Vice-Chairperson’s post.
