the goan I network
VASCO
Kritesh Gaönkar and Shashikant Parab regained their positions as Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson respectively after Urban Development Minister on Monday set aside the decision of their ouster by the presiding officer during a special meeting to decide the no-confidence motion moved against them by 13 MMC councillors.
However, according to sources, the victory of the duo could be short-lived as the 13 opposition councillors have decided to move yet another no-confidence motion against them on Tuesday.
It may be recalled that a special meeting was convened on May 3 to decide on the motion moved against Gaonkar and Parab by 13 councillors led by Nandadeep Raut.
However, the meeting saw confusion and suspense after there were debates on mode of election
(ballots or show of hands) and subsequently the ruling panel despite demanding ballots chose not to vote. Subsequently there was suspense after one of the opposition panel councillors used a pen to vote on the ballot paper. A demand was made not to consider the vote. The ruling panel sighted that the councillor was under pressure and had chosen to vote using a pen to indicate the same.
However, since the tally was 12-0, Gaönkar was declared ousted by the presiding officer. Gaonkar challenged the decision before the DMA and Urban Development Minister by filing a revision petition stating that 12 votes did not indicate majority in a MMC body consisting of 25 councillors. However, Shashikant Parab was declared ousted by 13 votes by show of hands despite demand of ballot system. Gaönkar later challenged the decision and filed a revision petition before the DMA and Urban Development Minister Milind Naik.
The DMA began conducting hearings and issued directives that no fresh elections were to be conducted till the issue was resolved while the opposition panel moved the High Court demanding early elections and filed intervention petition.
They maintained that the Urban Development Minister could not take up the hearing of the revision petition under section 303 of Goa Municipality Act. The HC later set aside the prayers while directing DMA to decide the matter
by May 27.
