the goan I network
MARGAO
In the wake of reports that a group of City Fathers were bracing up to dislodge her from office, Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai on Thursday undertook to resign from the post to facilitate a smooth transition for a new chairperson to take over the Municipal reigns on Gandhi Jayanti Day on October 2.
Babita, however, said she was extremely pained and disturbed to read media reports that some councillors were planning to move a motion of no confidence against her. “I understand that they are fully within their democratic rights to do so, but the fact remains that they are attempting this move at a time when I am unable to attend to my duties for medical reasons, having undergone a surgical procedure on 11th August and being forced to take complete rest for a month since,” Babita said in a signed statement.
She pointed out that it is most disturbing and worrying that her colleagues in the council are conspiring to create instability at a time when all councillors should be united, in the interests of the city of Margao, to solve the many issues facing the city, most importantly the Sonsodo garbage dump and waste management plant issue. “Instead of facing this problem together, it is unfortunate that the council is sought to be destabilised
by certain forces for
petty political reasons,”
she said.
Taking cognizance of reports that councillors across party lines are trying to come together to dislodge her from office, Babita said, “It appears that councillors owing allegiance to diametrically-opposed ideological parties are coming together in a repeat of the recent sequence of events in the Legislative Assembly.”
Making it very clear that she does not intend to cling to power and continue as chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council if a majority of the councillors do not wish so, Babita said, “but, before that, I will rejoin my duties after my recuperation period, and consult those who had given me the opportunity to serve my city as chairperson.”
Saying that she will present to the people of Margao a balance sheet of her tenure as chairperson, Babita undertook to resign and facilitate a smooth transition if the majority of the Council wishes and facilitate a smooth transition for a new chairperson to take over on October 2, 2019 on Gandhi Jayanti, without allowing any period of instability or disarray in the Council.
Babita had taken over the reigns of the Margao Municipal Council around three years and nine months ago in November, 2015 after the Fatorda Forward, a panel floated by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai swept the Municipal polls by winning all 11 seats at stake in the Fatorda area of the civic body. Given that the Fatorda Forward had aligned with Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to form the Margao Civic Alliance, Babita was elected to the coveted seat with a huge majority, with the backing of the councillors supported by Vijay Sardesai and Digambar Kamat.
