MARGAO
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai on Thursday has dared Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to declare Fatorda a Smart City if the government is serious about development.
The Goa Forward party has decided to field outgoing Margao Municipal chairperson Pooja Naik as the Fatorda Forward’s candidate in Ward No 4 of the MMC.
Pooja had filed her papers in Ward No 23 before the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) came out with a fresh reservations after the Supreme Court upheld the High Court order on the ward reservations.
Given that Ward No 4 has now been reserved for the OBC women after de-reserving the ward for the ST community, the Goa Forward chief has decided to swap the candidates, fielding Pooja in the ward.
Saying the former MMC Chairperson is set to contest from Ward No 4, Sardesai on Thursday said Pooja’s candidature has evoked resounding endorsement from the voters of Chandrawaddo.
Sardesai commended Pooja Naik’s dedication and hard work in making Fatorda a world class city saying that “she has consistently delivered and always ensured that Fatorda’s residents are always happy and satisfied”.
Meanwhile, Sardesai has challenged the Chief Minister to get Fatorda notified as a smart city, if he really wants to prove he is a champion of development. Saying that Fatorda has become the embodiment of a smart, progressive Goa under Goa Forward, Vijai said that he considers the municipal election as a referendum on his performance, and he is putting forward a ‘future ready Fatorda’ for the people.
Sardesai said that if the CM can get the municipal reservations case listed in Supreme Court overnight, then he should also have powers to get Fatorda notified as a Smart City. “Interestingly, the cases related to Mhadei and Mining are still dragging on in the apex court for years, and have not received the luxury of being heard on priority”, he added.
Speaking on the fast paced development in Fatorda under his watch, Vijai stated that his success is because Fatordekars have abiding faith in GFP and the Fatorda Forward panel, and all the selected candidates have a strong commitment to their wards and its residents, and believe in practicing ‘development by consent’.
