Rival panels spar over Canacona civic poll results

The successful panel led by former MLAs Vijay Poi Khot and Isidore Fernandes had to rely on luck as Prathana Naik Gaunkar and Samita Dhuri were elected chairperson and vice-chairperson.

With his panel is in control of CMC, Poi Khot seized the opportunity to take a dig at Sports Minister and local MLA, Ramesh Tawadkar, claiming that people had rejected Tawadkar at the Canacona civic polls.

“People have rejected Tawadkar, as he has failed to bring any development to Canacona taluka, despite him being in the government for the last three-and-half years,” said Poi Khot.

“Except for foundations stones, there has not been a single development in Canacona municipality,” he added.

Seeking to dispel claims that it was a Poi Khot-led panel, he clarified: “This panel of five councillors is not of Vijay Poi Khot, but of all like-minded people who came together to defeat the evil designs of the local MLA.”

“Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has assured us support and we will soon meet him. We expect no politics in running the council and all 10 councillors will work together to initiate development. We will naturally need the government's support,” Poi Khot added.

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Tawadkar blames Khot for BJP's defeat

THE GOAN NETWORK

CANACONA

Still smarting over his failure to wrest control of Canacona Municipal Council (CMC), Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar has turned his fury at his friend-turned-foe, former MLA Vijay Poi Khot, for his debacle at the council poll.

Speaking to a local media channel, Tawadkar sought to dismiss Poi Khot's claims that people had rejected the local legislator.

“I have not been rejected, but Poi Khot's attempts to come back, hook or by crook, as been rejected by the people of Canacona, because he used to keep his feet in two boats. He hobnobbed with the Congress for political mileage and was holding a view that BJP would not get more than 5 seats in the last assembly polls.”

“He tried to and still doing damage to the BJP party. His dream to come back will always remain a dream,” said Tawadkar.

The Canacona MLA then challenged Khot to name a third project he had brought in Canacona, after being an MLA for 10 years.

“Every time Poi Khot boasts of constructing the KTC complex and CHC hospital building, but I challenge him to name a third project during his 10-year stint as MLA,” said Tawadkar.

Incidentally, all five BJP councillors also hit out at Pai Khot during a news conference.

“When Isidore Fernandes also had worked against BJP and was instrumental in getting some councillors to defeat BJP-backed candidates, how is Poi Khot claiming that the panel is his?” asked councillor Sameer Dessai.

“At least, unlike Poi Khot who plays hidden politics, Isidore Fernandes has come out openly to canvas for the candidates. Poi Khot knows only to hug a candidate when elected,” Dessai added.

Former CMC chairperson Sameer Dessai, whose wife and present councillor Nitu Dessai lost to Prathana Naik Gaunkar in the draw of lots, accused Poi Khot of playing divisive politics in the municipal poll.

“We all congratulate and appreciate Isidore Fernandes for his straight-forward campaign in the municipal polls and not like Poi Khot, who took credit for the panel and ran along with them outside the state,” said Sameer Dessai.

Dayanand Pagui, who lost the deputy chairperson's post to Samita Dhuri, tried to justify the decision to form the council with BJP's support.

“We wanted to form the CMC with BJP's support simply because that the council cannot progress without government's assistance,” said Pagui.

“But luck was not on our side. We were lured with monetary benefits, but we all remained together. Despite our differences, all 10 councillors will work together and to achieve prosperity in the council. We will support good decisions and projects, but will oppose any wrong/bad decision in the council,” he added.

First-time Councillor Kishore Shet accused some defeated candidates of working overtime to control the formation of the new council.