MAPUSA: Controversy dogged the inauguration of the new Assonora market complex with Tivim MLA Nilkant Halarnkar stating that he was told about the inauguration at the very last minute.
“An official of the GSIDC called on the phone to invite me for the function 50 minutes before the inauguration. If this is not insult to the people of the constituency then what is it?” Halarnkar said. He also took objection to the inscription of the name of the former BJP MLA, Kiran Kandolkar on the inaugural plaque saying that GSIDC has now set a precedent. “They have set a precedent by putting the name of ex-MLA on the plaque. If that is the case they should have also inserted the names of all former MLAs like Sadanand Tanavde, Dayanand Narvekar and others,” he said and added that this practice should be followed all over the State now.
Earlier, Panchayat Minister, Mauvin Godinho censured the local MLA for his absence at the function. “The local MLA should have been present here. I have done 25 inaugurations in the past but for the first time I have seen the local MLA is not present for the function. I don’t know why he is not here but he should have been here because it is such a big project,” Godinho said. Former BJP MLA from Tivim, Kiran Kandolkar also took pot shots at the Tivim MLA who is his rival. “Your social work should not be restricted only to visits at home for votes. The local MLA should have been present during such programmes,” Kandolkar said. Kandokar recalled how Sarpanch Sapna Mapari was coaxing him to talk to GSIDC to get the work done on the Assonora market complex. “I am not the PA of the current MLA to speak to GSIDC or other departments. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has not stalled work of any constituencies. The local MLA has to go to the government and push the work. This work has to be done by the MLA,” he said taunting Halarnkar. “We should not play politics with people’s work/projects. We can play politics at our individual level. People have hope to get their work done from the MLA.”
