THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
After Tuesday’s development when three BJP-backed councillors proposed the candidature of bete noire Ganashyam Shirodkar for MMC Chairperson, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat must have pinned hopes on alliance partner Goa Forward for the much-needed support as his Model Margao has on Tuesday decided to field two-time councillor Damu Shirodkar for the vacant post.
Just before the nomination process could begin at the Margao Municipal Council, the Margao MLA went into a huddle with his seven-member group and decided to field Damu Shirodkar.
Sources in the know informed that the Margao MLA reportedly told the seven Model Margao councillors that Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai has assured him to support the candidate.
Acting MMC Chairperson Deepali Sawal, who is a member of the Margao Model panel, also attended the meeting.
After the meeting, Damu Shirodkar collected the nomination forms from the Margao Municipal Council on Tuesday. He is expected to file his papers after a joint meeting between the MCA councillors and the two MLAs - Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai.
Sources said Kamat along with his seven councillors was scheduled to hold a joint meeting with Sardesai and his Goa Forward councillors on Monday evening before it was called up due to Sardesai’s preoccupation.
Ganashyam says his candidature proposed by three as individuals
MARGAO:
After crossing the first hurdle in his quest to return to the MMC saddle by getting three BJP-backed councillors to propose his candidature, Ganashyam Shirodkar asserted he is contesting the Chairperson’s post as an Independent and his candidature has been proposed by the three as individuals.
“I am contesting the election for the post as an Independent. My three proposers have proposed my candidature as independents and not as BJP councillors,” he said, adding that his candidature has evoked support from councillors, who are part of all groups.
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Didn't instruct councillors to propose
Ganashyam's candidature, says BJP
MARGAO:
Completely taken aback by the unfolding developments, the BJP sought to distance from the decision of the three party-backed councillors to propose the candidature of Ganashyam Shirodkar.
Party general secretary Damu Naik made it clear that the party did not issue any instructions to the councillors to propose Ganashyam’s candidature. In fact, he said the party had told the nine councillors to wait and watch before the group, as a whole, take a united decision.
“I have nothing to say how the three have proposed Ganashyam’s candidature. This is not the decision of the party. The trio must have done so individually,” he said.
Damu, however, conceded that the BJP had no numbers to return to power in the civic body even though the party-backed panel is the single largest group in the municipality with nine councillors.
