the goan I network
MARGAO
In the last five years, when the BJP was ruling the State with a simple majority, the party maintained a stranglehold over these posts. Take for instance the Ravindra Bhavan. After BJP leader Damu Naik faced his defeat at the hands of Vijai Sardesai in the 2012 election, he was rehabilitated by the party leadership by appointing him as Chairman of the Ravindra Bhavan. Damu presided over the affairs of the Ravindra Bhavan till he resigned to quit the post to contest the 2017 Assembly election.
Similarly, the BJP leadership ensured that the crucial post of Chairman of SGPDA was retained by the party leaders or people sympathetic to the party. For instance, if BJP Cuncolim MLA Rajan Naik was appointed SGPDA Chairman post 2012 election, Mauvin Godinho moved in as a replacement for Rajan when the SGPDA was about to set in motion the process to finalise the crucial Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao city.
When The Goan asked Vijai to throw light on the question whether the Goa Forward will lay claim on the chairmanship of both Ravindra Bhavan and SGPDA, he dropped hints that the chairmanships should come to the Goa Forward as a matter of protocol given that the two positions are located right at Goa Forward party’s backyard in Margao.
That’s not all. Goa Forward party in general and Vijai in particular may certainly try to prove a point vis-Ã -vis the chairmanship of both SGPDA and Ravindra Bhavan. For, Damu was firmly in the saddle of Ravindra Bhavan during the last five years during the BJP-tenure and the Vijai camp may be anxious to get someone from his group to head the cultural institution. That the Goa Forward party means business was evident by the fact that local former BJP leader Sujay Lotlikar, who joined Goa Forward last year, was recently appointed the President of Madgao Shigmotsav Samiti, a position enjoyed by Damu Naik during the last five years.
As far as the SGPDA chairmanship is concerned, political observers, say that Mauvin Godinho heading the PDA will be out of question, in
the event he is inducted as a minister in the Parrikar-led government.
The Goa Forward party mentor is presently presiding over the affairs of the Town and Country Planning department and Vijai will certainly look forward to have his men at the helm of affairs of the PDA.
“Nothing has been decided as yet on the SGPDA chairmanship. All these issues will be addressed after the budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly,” he said. Vijai, however, hastened to add that he can block the ODP at the level of the TCP Board when it comes to ratification if the same is passed by the SGPDA with discrepancies.
Goa Forward mentor hints that the chairmanships should come to the Goa Forward as a matter of protocol given that the two positions are located right at the party’s backyard in Margao
Vijai is presently presiding over the affairs of the Town and Country Planning department and he will certainly look forward to have his men at the helm of affairs of the PDA and Ravindra Bhavan
