MARGAO
Will Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai manage to break the ice with her group of councillors owing allegiance to the Goa Forward as resentment is brewing amongst the group over the functioning of the civic body?
Or, will the group of ruling councillors insist that Babita steps down from office to pave way for another woman from the group to take over the reigns of office? And, will TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai agree for a change of political guard in the Margao Municipal Council before the proposed Fatorda Municipal Council comes into existence?
Three days after TCP Minister had a meeting with his ruling group of councillors to find out the nature of resentment amongst the group against the Municipal chairperson, Thursday saw Babita inviting the group for discussions across the table in the civic body in a bid to break the ice and resolve grievances of the ruling councillors, if any. However, only two councillors were believed to have turned up for the proposed meeting with the chairperson, with a couple of City Fathers unable to make it for the meeting due to their pre-occupation.
Says Babita: "I had invited the ruling councillors to understand their grievances and evolve solutions. I don't think there's any resentment amongst the group against me or the Council. Anyway, I have taken the initiative and the dialogue will continue in the future. And, I believe that all these issues need to be discussed across the table."
She, however, said that differences amongst the councillors are bound to occur in a Municipal body having 25 members, adding that the real test lies in addressing the grievances.
A couple of ruling councillors in private, however, said they would insist for a change in political guard. "The TCP Minister very well knows the pulse of the ruling councillors. We have conveyed out sentiments to the Minister and he has agreed to address them," a ruling councillor remarked, adding that they would insist on the replacement of the chairperson at the earliest.
The councillor, however, said they are all solidly behind the TCP Minister and would not take any decision that would affect him. In the same vein, however, they felt that the TCP Minister should understand their sentiments and take the corrective measures in the interest of the ruling group and Fatorda at large.
The Goa Forward group of councillors representing the wards in Fatorda constituency had swept the election for the MMC two years ago, by winning all the 11 seats at stake under the banner of Fatorda Forward. In the 25-member civic body, the ruling group has 12 members, followed by the BJP with seven members, five members belonging to Digambar Kamat camp and an independent.
