the goan I network
MARGAO
With election to constitute the Statutory Committees scheduled on Monday, the ruling Margao Municipal Council on Friday set in motion the process to constitute the panels, but the opposition group has decided to stay away from the process, neither accepting offers from the ruling group to take certain posts nor are contesting the election.
The chamber of MMC Chairperson Pooja Naik witnessed a flurry of activity as the ruling group went into a huddle to nominate the ruling councillors on various committees before the list was submitted to the Chief Officer around noon.
The opposition councillors led by Doris Texeira, however, decided not to accept the offers made by the ruling group to induct the opposition members on the statutory panels. Leave alone accepting the offers for induction on the panels, the 12-member opposition group stayed away from the election process on Friday. None of the opposition councillors have filed their nomination papers for any of the posts on the statutory panels, leaving the ruling group to fill up the posts.
Taken aback by the stand of the opposition councillors, Chairperson Pooja and her deputy Tito Cardozo and ruling councillors, including Peter Fernandes, Angelis Pereira and others were frantically trying to call the ruling group members to come to the municipality to sign the nomination papers.
As it finally turned out, members contesting the election for the Standing Committee and the Subjects Committee, including the crucial market committee, will be elected unopposed for want of a contest and the election scheduled on Monday will turn out a mere formality.
