MARGAO
Margao Municipal Chairperson Lyndon Pereira is finally expected to quit office later this week before completing the 15-month stint on August 27 as leaders of Margao Civic Alliance (MCA) Digambar Kamat and his Fatorda counterpart Vijai Sardesai met on Wednesday over the leadership issue.
Sources pointed out that during the meeting, the Margao MLA is believed to have conveyed to Sardesai that he will have no problem if the issue over the MMC Chairperson is decided after Ganesh Chaturthi. The Fatorda MLA, however, point blank told his Margao counterpart that there’s no question of going back on his word that the Chairperson would step down from office after completing 15 months.
Sources informed that the Goa Forward chief is believed to have stuck to his decision that the party-backed chairperson would quit after completing 15 months on grounds that the party has honoured its word given to the alliance partner and to keep the resentment brewing in both the camps at bay.
Sources said councillors had sent warnings that any attempt to keep the chairperson in the saddle beyond 15 months may force them to table a no-confidence motion.
When contacted, the Goa Forward chief conceded that Kamat and he had a meeting on Wednesday, informing that the duo has finally decided that Lyndon would resign from the chair ahead of August 27, the day when the chairperson would be completing 15 months.
“The Margao MLA was not averse to maintaining the status quo in the civic body given the ensuing Ganesh festivities. But, I have made it clear there’s no going back on the word," he said.
Kamat and Sardesai had struck an alliance before the Margao municipal polls in 2021 under the banner of the Margao Civic Alliance to keep the BJP at bay. The MCA had won 15 out of the 25 seats and the privilege of occupying the chairperson’s post had gone to Goa Forward by virtue of the group having nine members as against eight won by Kamat’s Model Margao group.
Digambar-led group is cynosure of all eyes
MARGAO: With the Goa Forward sticking to its decision to get the Margao Municipal Chairperson Lyndon Pereira to quit the post before August 27, the Digambar Kamat-led Model Margao group is the cynosure of all eyes.
For, while the Margao MLA may be in favour of two-time councillor Damu Shirodkar to take over the reins, a section of the Model Margao councillors is reportedly backing first-time councillor Shagun alias Dada Naik.
Shagun has made no bones of the fact that some of the Model Margao councillors have backed his candidature.
On the other hand, Damu Shirodkar has told his aides that he has left the decision to the Margao MLA. He is believed to have reminded that Kamat had assured his workers last year that he would take over the reins once Lyndon steps down.
