How stable is Margao municipality?

MARGAO
How stable is the five-month old Margao Municipal Council controlled by the ruling BJP? Post this question to Congress-turned-Margao MLA, Digambar Kamat, the architect of bringing the BJP back to power in the A grade Municipal body after a gap of 17 years.

In his characteristic style, Kamat asserted that he has full confidence in his ruling group of councillors that they would do nothing to destabilise the Council. Saying there could be difference of opinion amongst the ruling councillors, Kamat, however, hastened to add that the City Fathers have told him that problems, if any, would be resolved amicably.

When the media asked Kamat to shed light on reports the ruling councillors are not too happy with Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar over his style of functioning, the Margao MLA said, “I don’t want to go into this question since I have full confidence in the councillors. There may be difference of opinion. Hence, I do not want to go into this question since the councillors have informed me there’s absolutely no problem.”

Notwithstanding Kamat’s statement, speculations are rife in the corridors of the Municipal building and outside that all is not well in the ruling Council. Outbursts during the recently held Margao Shigmotsav by two BJP councillors Mahesh Amonkar and Raju Naik indicate that voices of dissent have been heard in the corridors of the civic body.

That’s not all. The presence of BJP Margao general secretary Ketan Kurtarkar at a programme held in Fatorda to lay the foundation stone for the Fatorda parking plaza has been a talking point in Margao. For, Ketan’s sister Dr Sushanta is a member of the ruling BJP group of councillors. 

What has further fueled speculations over the stability of the MMC is the rumours and reports spread by the rival camp that the opposition is in need of just one councillor to dislodge the BJP Council and form an alternate body.

In the 25-member body, the ruling BJP enjoys overwhelming support of 16 members, with the opposition left with nine members, including the seven Goa Forward councillors and two Independents, former Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar and BJP-turned-Independent Parvati Paradkar.

Local political observers pointed out though voices of dissent are being heard in the corridors of the civic body, the Congress-turned-BJP MLA in particular and the BJP in general are unlikely to allow the disgruntled councillors, if any, to destabilise the civic body. For, they reminded that the BJP had gone to the extent of bringing about an Amendment to the Goa Municipalities Act to do away with the time tested mode of conducting elections for the post of chairperson via secret ballot and to introduce election by show of hands, which had paved the way for the BJP to return back to power in the Margao civic body.

That’s not all. The opposition camp needs the support of minimum four councillors from the BJP to abandon the ruling boat and jump towards the Goa Forward-led group.