The brother-sister duo of Margao Municipal Councillor Sushanta and Ketan Kurtarkar.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar.
MARGAO
Margao Municipal Councillor Sushanta Kurtarkar on Wednesday severed her ties with the BJP but the resignation is unlikely to disturb the power equation in the 25-member civic body, at least for the moment.
For, the number game is clearly in favour of the Congress-turned-BJP Margao MLA Digambar Kamat's panel which controls the Margao civic body.
Sushanta’s brother Ketan, the general secretary of the party, has also quit the ruling party.
While it is expected that Sushanta’s exit from the BJP will reduce the party’s number in the civic body, the ground reality may remain unchanged. For, one of the BJP-backed councillors, Sunita Paradkar, who joined the opposition camp around two years ago, returned to the BJP camp on the eve of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
In fact, when 'The Goan' called up Paradkar to shed light on her present alignment in the Margao civic body, the councillor was categorical in saying that she is now with the BJP after she joined the party’s campaign in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Sources said that Sushanta’s exit from the party will not alter the number game in the 25-member Margao civic body unless more councillors from the ruling dispensation quit the party.
BJP-backed Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar had won the election to the vacant post unopposed with the support of 16 members. The BJP, sources said, continues to enjoy the support of 16 members in the 25-member civic body, despite councillor Sushanta’s exit from the party for the reason that councillor Sunita Paradkar is back in the party fold.
‘Party on decline under Digambar’s watch’
Ahead of Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai’s janata darbar at Margao Municipal Hall on Thursday, the Margao unit of the BJP came under the scanner of citizens on Wednesday after party general secretary Ketan Kurtarkar quit the party along with his sister, Margao Municipal Councillor Sushanta Kurtarkar.
Ketan and Sushanta told the media on Wednesday that they have sent in their resignations to the party leadership. The duo said they would consult their workers and supporters before chalking out their future course of action.
Ketan sought to blame Congress-turned-BJP Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, saying that grassroots workers, who had selflessly worked for the growth of the party in Margao, have been ignored and sidelined by the MLA. “Unlike others who had changed parties before joining the BJP, I have been with the BJP over the years, having worked at the grassroots level. But, those who have joined the party with Kamat are getting preference and prominence,” he added.
Saying that the party is losing ground as clear by the thin lead secured by the party candidate in Margao in the Lok Sabha election, Ketan said the Congress party did not even put tables on polling day but came close to getting a lead in the constituency. “I am moving out of the party when the party is in power. When you don’t get any justice, more so when the party is in power, I had to decide to leave the party and be in the opposition,” he said.
Ketan claimed that works sanctioned by former PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral in his ward have been sabotaged, charging the Margao MLA for coming out with excuses when it comes to resolving issues faced by Goemkars. "Kamat brought the Chief Minister to Moti Dongor, but never brought Pramod Sawant to address the problems faced by the local citizens."
