MARGAO
Baffled over the ghost of cross-voting by BJP-backed Councillors in the election for the Margao Municipal Chairperson, leaving the party leadership red-faced, all the 15-party backed councilors were on Friday evening summoned to the residence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for a review meeting.
If sources are to be believed, the terse message conveyed to the 15 Councillors was simple “ if they are not happy in the party, the doors are open for them to move out.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Cong-turned-BJP MLA Digambar Kamat and other BJP leaders, who went into a huddle with the 15 BJP-backed Councillors at the CM’s residence had one question to ask “ how come the Party lost the MMC Chairperson’s post-election when the 15 Councillors had a meeting with the CM last night and are all present again at the CM’s residence.
Sources in the know informed the BJP leadership is ready to strike back in the Margao Municipality on condition the 15 Councillors remain united. In this respect, the Councilors have been given time to introspect and decide whether they want to stay put in the party or move out, before the party works out a strategy in the Civic body.
Margao BJP Mandal Chief Rupesh Mahatme said the Chief Minister only listened to what the other leaders spoke at the meeting, but the Councillors were told to decide whether they want to stay put in the party or quit. “We are not forcefully keeping anyone in the party. We have told the Councillors that they are free to walk out of the party if they do not want to stay”, Rupesh said.
He added: “We do not want to doubt anyone out of the 15 Councillors for cross-voting in the election. Hence, we have told them to take a call whether they want to stay put or leave the party”.
Sources in the know pointed out that the senior party leadership has taken serious cognizance of the cross-voting, which has left the party embarrassed.
