THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
The battle lines are finally drawn for the post of Margao Municipal Council chairperson. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai’s nominee Pooja Naik will cross swords with Leader of the Opposition, Digambar Kamat’s close confidante Doris Texeira in Friday’s election for the vacant post of MMC chairperson.
While Pooja accompanied by outgoing chairperson Babita Prabhudesai, vice-chairperson Tito Cardozo, Raju Shirodkar and Zita Crasto had filed her papers on Wednesday, Doris submitted her nomination for the coveted post in the presence of the Congress-backed councillors Avinash Shirodkar, Deepa Shirodkar, Sharad Prabhudesai, Manoj Masurkar and
Damu Naik.
Both the Goa Forward (12) and the Congress (6) have no numbers of its own to touch the magic figure of 13 in the 25-member civic body and will be looking forward to the six-member group of BJP councillors and an Independent to garner the simple majority to romp home to victory.
Doris told the waiting media persons that she has thrown her hat in the ring with the blessing of her leader, Digambar Kamat and colleague councillors. Answering on the contentious issue of seeking support of the BJP to reach the magic figure of 13, Doris evaded a reply saying it is for the BJP-backed councillors whether to support her candidature or not.
She, however, made a fervent plea to all the councillors to examine their conscience and vote and elect her to office. “I feel that I will do justice for the job with my 15-year experience as a councillors. My colleague councillors had supported me because they think I am fit for the post,”
she added.
When questioned how she can reach the magic figure of 13 when her group consists of only six councillors, Doris said the councillors should examine their conscience and exercise their vote irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
Saying that she and her colleague councillors have been playing the role of opposition in the Council for the last two-years-and-half, Doris said she would continue to play the same role even in the event majority of the councillors do not favour her in Friday’s election.
In the 25-member Margao civic body, the Goa Forward enjoys the support of 12 councillors. On the other hand, the Kamat-backed group has six councillors in the civic body and will require the support of the BJP-backed councillors and Independent councillor Clara Fernandes to wrest the Margao civic body from the Goa Forward. While the BJP-backed group had seven councillors, it’s tally has now come down to six, with councillor Raju Shirodkar coming out openly to support the candidature of Pooja.
BJP plays its cards close to chest,
unwilling to unveil poll strategy
MARGAO: The BJP seemed playing its cards close to its chest, unwilling to unveil the strategy in Friday’s battle for Margao Municipal Council chairperson between the Goa Forward and the Congress.
The six-member group of councillors, sources said, had a meeting with senior party leaders at the BJP district party office on Thursday morning to take stock of the situation and devise the strategy for Friday’s poll. The party leadership, including Damu Naik tried to downplay the meeting held in the party district office on Thursday morning, only saying that another meeting will be held later tonight to devise the election strategy.
Sources in the ruling BJP informed that the party is deliberating in not unveiling the election strategy for the simple that it can ill-afford to go to the town announcing its support to the Digambar Kamat-led Congress group in the civic body for the simple reason that the Opposition leader has been its arch rival in Margao politics.
That’s not all. A section of the BJP Margao unit is strongly opposed to any move to bail out the Digambar-backed group in the civic body in the battle with the Goa Forward on grounds that the development may send wrong signals to its core voter-base in the city.
The BJP’s tally in the Margao Municipal Council has come down to six in the 25-member civic body with councillor Raju Shirodkar switching his loyalties to the Goa Forward party.
Goa Forward moves its group of
councillors to unknown destination
MARGAO: With a no-holds-barred contest on the anvil on Friday and poaching of City Fathers is not ruled out in the close contest, the Goa Forward has moved its group of Councilors out of the city to a safe place.
Barring two councillors, who had to stay put at their respective homes because of other factors, the remaining members of the group are presently holed up in an unknown destination.
Sources said Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai is believed to have suggested that his group of councillors be taken to an unknown destination after attempts were made by the rival group to establish contacts with at least two councillors.
Not taking any chances, it was decided to keep members of the group at an unknown destination. They are all expected to return to the city on Friday morning ahead of the chairperson’s election at 11.30 am.
