MARGAO
Hurt by the blatant betrayal by his colleagues resulting in his defeat in the election for the post of Margao Municipal Chairperson, BJP-backed councillor Damu Shirokdar has wondered how the five councillors, who cross-voted in support of the Goa Forward-backed candidate, dared to swear on the sacred coconut before Lord Dambab at the Zambaulim Temple that they have voted for his candidature.
While saying that he has no issue that the five councillors had betrayed him, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat by cross-voting in support of the rival candidate, Damu pointed out that Lord Dambab will never spare those who lie and falsehood before him.
“It is a fact that five out of the 15 councillors had cross-voted in the election, resulting in my defeat. But, these very five councillors were all part of the 14 councillors who later swore on the sacred coconut they have voted for me. How is it possible that I have received only 10 votes when as many as 14 councillors later took the oath they have voted for me? This is plain betrayal. Lord Dambab will take care of all those who speak lies and falsehood,” he said.
Saying that 14 out of the 15 councillors had signed the no-confidence motion at the meeting held at the residence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Damu said it is now a mere formality when the notice is entered in the office of the Director of Municipal Administration, saying party leaders will take a call when to go ahead and table the no-trust motion.
He demanded to know how Damu Shirodkar has polled only 10 votes when all the 14 councillors have taken an oath before Lord Dambab that they all voted for me.
“I did not force them to take the oath before Lord Dambab. I am a firm believer of Lord Ganpati and don’t want to blame anyone, but I have the proof of at least two councillors who have cross-voted and are now in a denial mode,” he said.
Damu added: “If all the 14 councillors have sworn before Lord Dambab that they have voted for me, who are the five councillors that have cross-voted? Did the devil come to the municipality on the day of polling to force the five to vote against me?”
Saying that he is not hurt because he has lost the election, Damu, however, said he is sad that the 14 councillors have taken the oath before Dambab that they have voted for me. “I have got video recording who are the traitors. The video will be shown to Madgavkars at the right time,” he said.
While leaving it to the party leadership to decide whether to nominate him for the post once it falls vacant, Damu said he is not hankering after any position, saying the people of his Aquem ward had twice elected him to the civic body and once his wife, indicating the trust he enjoys with his voters.
Ganashyam slams BJP for forcing councillors to swear before God
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Condemning the politics of oaths on sacred coconuts, Goa Forward party-backed Margao Municipal Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar has slammed the BJP leaders for forcing the 14 councillors, including those hailing from the Christian minority to swear on the sacred coconut before Lord Dambab that they have not cross-voted in the election.
He said the BJP as well as the Congress-turned-Margao MLA Digambar Kamat should gracefully accept his election as the MMC Chairperson and not force the councillors to take oath before God against their wishes.
“I have been a councillor of the Margao Municipality, but I have never seen in my entire political life such politics of forcing councillors to swear on the coconut and before Lord Dambab. It is in the interest of the BJP and the Margao MLA that they accept the verdict and stop the exercise to subject them to oaths before the Almighty,” Ganashyam said.
He added: “In Goa and Margao, all the communities enjoy harmonious relations. Christians visit the Temples and our Hindus visit the Churches. But, this is the first time that Christian councillors have been told to swear an oath on the coconut before Lord Dambab. I do not know who is the author of this exercise and how the Catholic councillor will answer their religious leaders and their community.”
Saying the people of Margao and Fatorda will teach the leaders a lesson if they do not accept the verdict in a democracy, Ganashyam said he is not bothered over reports that the BJP councillors have signed the notice of no-confidence motion against him.
“I started my work in the city after my election as the Chairperson. I will not get distracted by such reports. I will cross the bridge when it comes,” Ganashyam reiterated.
