MARGAO
The BJP-ruled Margao Municipal Council came under strain during the weekend with the Civic chief Damu Shirodkar creating a flutter on Saturday noon, as he threatened to quit office, over what he called as being slighted and belittled by Congress-turned-BJP Margao MLA Digambar Kamat by not inviting him for a meeting with MMC officials in a city hotel here around noon.
Kamat, who went into a huddle with Municipal officials, including Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar, Municipal engineers, Municipal lawyer and other officials at a city hotel around Saturday noon, however, said there was no formal meeting with the Municipal officials. In fact, Kamat pointed out the civic officials were taken to the hotel for lunch since the inspections of the Municipal wards, including the ward represented by the Civic chief Damu Shirodkar, ended late noon.
“There was some misunderstanding over the meeting with officials. I want to state there was no formal meeting with the officials and we had only gathered for lunch at the hotel since the inspections ended late afternoon”, Kamat told The Goan, while denying that any attempt was made to insult or belittle the Municipal Chairperson.
The strain in the relations between the MMC Chief and the Margao MLA also assumes significance and comes a day after the government told the Margao Municipal Chief Officer to withdraw the MMC recruitment process as cancelled.
The MMC Chairperson earlier told the media that he is frustrated with the way he is being treated by the powers that be. In fact, Damu told the media he could not send his resignation to the Director of Municipal Administration online given it was a holiday.
“I am not interested in continuing in office when I am being insulted and ignored”, he said, while referring to the meeting that took place in a city hotel chaired by the Margao MLA.
“Why was the Municipal Chairperson not invited for the meeting at the city hotel called by the MLA”, Damu demanded to know, saying he is ready to quit office than suffer these insults.
The emerging political developments saw ruling Councillors and the BJP leadership, including the Margao MLA going on a damage control mode to ensure the situation does not go out of control, resulting in the BJP losing the Margao Municipal Council.
Sources informed that ruling Councillors and leaders tried to mediate and remove the misunderstanding in the minds of the Chairperson and Councillors close to him. In fact, ruling MMC Councilor Mahesh Amonkar said the ruling Councillors will not allow Damu Shirodkar to quit office, saying what has happened between the Civic chief and MLA Kamat was sheer misunderstanding.
Considered a close confidante of the Margao MLA, Damu Shirodkar was made the MMC Chief in October 2022 via an Ordinance, by changing the mode of voting for a Civic chief, from secret ballot to show of hands. Damu had taken over the reigns of office on October 12 last year and will complete one year in office In two months time.
It’s still not clear whether there was any understanding that Damu would step down from office after completing one year or after a year and half in office.
