MARGAO
With four days to go for the no-trust motion against Margao Municipal Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar, the civic chief and the supporting Goa Forward Party got a task cut out “ how to win over at least three of the five BJP-backed councillors who had crossed-voted in the September 16 poll and foil the bid to dislodge the chairperson.
As the countdown has begun for the no-trust motion against Ganashyam scheduled on September 23, the Goa Forward-backed Chairperson has a clear-cut task to ensure that at least three of the ruling councillors abstain from the special meeting convened on Friday to decide the no-confidence motion.
For, the municipal chairperson has 10 councillors and badly requires the support of another three from the BJP, to survive the motion.
The situation has thrown up a host of questions about how the civic chief and the Goa Forward Party will go about garnering the support of the three BJP-backed councillors assuming that the no-trust motion is being conducted by the Presiding Officer by show of hands.
It is not out of place to mention here that Ganashyam had made it to the post of MMC Chairperson with 15 votes as against 10 votes polled by the BJP-backed Damu Shirodkar, a clear indication that five saffron party-backed city fathers had cross-voted in favour of the Goa Forward-backed candidate.
Observers, however, say that the no-trust motion is a different ball game when it is expected to be decided by a show of hands and not via a secret ballot.
Such a situation, sources say, may go in favour of the BJP-backed group, unless a minimum of three councillors from the panel stage an open revolt and align with the chairperson.
As things stand, the BJP group has exuded confidence that, unlike the September 16 election, wherein five councillors had cross-voted, the party will succeed in dislodging the chairperson.
“We are all united now. All the 15 councillors have signed the no-trust motion and we will unitedly ensure that it is carried at the special meeting on Friday," informed BJP-backed councillor Mahesh Amonkar.
On the other hand, Ganashyam remained tightlipped over the no-trust motion. “I do not want to offer any comment over the no-confidence motion,” he told the media.
Sources, however, said that Ganashyam and the Goa Forward Party leaders are trying to get in touch with at least three BJP-backed councillors, the bare minimum needed to defeat the no-trust motion.
Sources pointed out that the beleaguered MMC Chairperson has few options at his disposal. One, go all out and win over the three BJP-backed councillors to muster the numbers; put in his papers before the meeting scheduled on Friday, or face the motion at the meeting by replying to the motion.
Meanwhile, even as uncertainty loomed large in the corridors of the MMC building, municipal workers on Tuesday installed the nameplate of newly-elected chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar at the entrance of his chamber.
The name of the newly-elected civic chief was also entered in the list of Chairpersons displayed inside the chamber of the municipal chief.
