MARGAO
The no-confidence motion, sources said, will be moved against the MMC Vice-Chairperson in the event Doris refuses to step down from office, even as the MMC Vice-Chairperson called on the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday, ostensibly to discuss the moves to dislodge her from office.
A day after The Goan reported that the Margao Civic Alliance comprising of TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai-backed councillors and Digambar Kamat-led Model Margao has split, councillors belonging to the BJP and Fatorda Forward have put their signatures on the notice of no-confidence motion against the municipal vice-chairperson. BJP-backed councillor and senior BJP leader Rupesh Mahatme told The Goan that the councillors have signed the no-confidence motion, adding that it will be entered in the DMA’s office if Doris fails to step down from office.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai confirmed to The Goan that Doris had come to see him to discuss the political developments. He, however, ruled out the possibility of tabling a no-confidence motion against Doris if she is willing to step down from office.
With the Model Margao group owing allegiance to the Digambar Kamat camp not having enough numbers in the 25-member Margao civic body, sources said that MMC Vice-Chairperson Doris Texeira has no option than to put in her papers or face the no-confidence motion. In fact, the Kamat group has been reduced to just five members in the 25-member Municipal body, giving the Fatorda Forward-BJP group a distinct advantage in the A class Municipality.
Doris told The Goan that she is ready to quit office anytime if the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat ask her to do so. “Both Vijai and Digambar have been instrumental in making me the MMC Vice-Chairperson. I will not wait for a single minute if I am told to step down,” Doris told The Goan.
Incidentally, the Kamat group appears to have resigned to its fate in view of the changing political developments. When The Goan called up Digambar for his reaction over the split in the Margao Civic Alliance, the Margao MLA virtually admitted that the group had anticipated the development with Vijai Sardesai now a part of the BJP-led dispensation at the State level. “Though we had a tie-up in the 2015 Municipal poll, this development was expected after March 11 when Vijai became part of the BJP-led government,” he said.
