MAPUSA
Former market committee chairman and Councillor Viraj Phadke was elected as the new Vice Chairperson of the Mapusa Municipal Council after the opposition-backed candidate Councillor Aanand Bhaidkar withdrew his nomination during the special council meeting to elect the vice chairperson on Wednesday.
Viraj Phadke is the son of the businessman and former Councillor, Vinod (Balu) Phadke.
The ruling BJP group had decided to field Phadke for the post of deputy chairperson and accordingly he had filed his nomination for the post before the chief officer.
A rejuvenated opposition in the civic body decided to make a match of the contest and therefore fielded Councillor Anand Bhaidkar to the post.
Sources in the opposition group informed that at least three councillors who had assured to back Bhaidkar for the post developed cold feet at the last minute, leaving their candidate no alternative but to withdraw.
“Our candidate may have not triumphed but even if three councillors of the ruling group supported us then it would have given us a huge moral victory and put the ruling group on the defensive,” a councillor from the opposition told The Goan.
“All is not lost. In fact, Mapusa Municipal Council will see a new opposition which will take proactive interest to raise issues pertaining to the people of Mapusa,” the Councillor said.
Soon after his election, the new Vice Chairperson said that his focus will be to improve the administration of the municipality and to tackle the garbage problem that has been haunting the civic body.
“As of now the administration is doing a good job but there is need to fine-tune it to make it more public-oriented. Garbage collection is also a problem that needs a serious look in,” Phadke said.
