MARGAO
After he got Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Lyndon Pereira to step down to honour the word that Goa Forward-backed chairperson will quit after 15 months, party chief Vijai Sardesai may face a question of sorts “ whether he will honour the agreement entered with his Margao counterpart MLA Digambar Kamat to support Kamat-backed candidate for the Chairperson’s post.
This question assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the Kamat-backed Model Margao group is bracing up to take over the reins of chairperson in the next week.
On its own, the Model Margao group, with seven councillors, cannot make it to the hot seat sans the support and backing of the Goa Forward, which enjoys the support of eight councillors, together accounting for 15 in the 25-member civic body.
The BJP group, which had just seven councillors in 2021, is now the single-largest group with nine members. Former Chairperson Ghanshyam Shirodkar is the lone independent councillor.
As things stand today, Kamat’s group can have its candidate on the hot seat only in the event the Goa Forward honour the agreement and commitment made to the Margao MLA in 2021 on the rotation of the post.
So far, Sardesai has honoured one part of the commitment to get Chairperson Lyndon to step down from office after completing 15 months. The question, however, remains unanswered is whether the Goa Forward chief will ensure that all his eight councillors back the candidate fielded by the Model Margao group.
For, reports emanating from the civic body indicate that a couple of Goa Forward-backed councillors are openly opposing a particular candidate, likely to be fielded by the Model Margao panel for the top post.
Sources pointed out that the Model Margao cannot hope to win the chairperson’s election without the backing of Goa Forward or just hope against hope for a split in the BJP group to make it to the hot seat.
Sources informed that a couple of Model Margao councillors, who too are opposed to a particular candidate from the group, have conveyed their sentiments to the Margao MLA.
Digambar, however, sources said has assured the group that he will take the responsibility of ensuring that the Fatorda Forward group votes en block for the Model Margao candidate.
Sawal assumes office as acting MMC chief
MARGAO:
Margao Municipal vice-chairperson Deepali Sawal on Monday assumed office as the acting Chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council after the seat fell vacant following the resignation of Lyndon Pereira.
After assuming office, Deepali went to the urgent files which were routed to the Chairperson’s chamber by the administration.
She will remain in office till the election of the new municipal chairperson. Deepali is likely to step down from the post of vice-chairperson after the election of the new chairperson.
