MAPUSA
Defending her decision to change sides and join the BJP, Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Shubangi Vaigankar said whatever she did was in the interest of the development of Mapusa.
She also said that she was elected due to her work in the ward and personal charisma.
“I decided on joining the BJP and supporting the BJP-led panel for the welfare and development of Mapusa,” said Vaigankar, who was a member of the opposition-led panel Mhapshekarancho Ekvott.
“Mhapshekarancho Ekvott came into existence for just 15 days. I was elected in my ward due to my work for the last 20 years and my charisma,” she added.
When questioned whether she would be able to work with the Mapusa MLA whom she had lambasted during the by-election in Mapusa, Vaigankar said that in the heat of electioneering, statements are made by most politicians, even senior ones.
“In politics, things happen but we need to move on,” she said while fending queries from a probing media.
On the eve of the chairperson’s election, a video shot during the Mapusa bypolls went viral on social media showing Shubangi Vaigankar criticising former Mapusa MLA late Francis D’Souza for failing to carry out any development in Mapusa and questioning present MLA Joshua D’Souza if Mapusa was his family’s fiefdom.
Trying to clear the air on her joining the BJP, Vaigankar said the saffron party which was responsible to humiliate and eject her some years back has now taken her back with all “respect”.
“It is better you ask the BJP leaders why they have taken me back into the party,” she curtly replied to another journalist.
Vaigankar said she held a responsible position as the chairperson of MMC and would do justice to the post.
“I will stand up to the expectations of every Mhapshekar,” Vaigankar said.
