THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
Claiming that he was not interested in threats by the ruling panel of Canacona Municipal Council (CMC), Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes has challenged any of the councillors to contest the forthcoming assembly polls.
Hitting back at the ruling CMC panel for their statements against him, Fernandes accused the panel of not doing anything to carry forward government proposed programmes and activities in the municipality.
Reacting to the threat by ruling councillors to stake claim for the BJP ticket if Canacona MLA was not helping the council to get government approvals for CMC proposed works, Fernandes replied: “I am not afraid of these threats and anyone can contest the assembly elections,” said Fernandes.
Fernandes informed that a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over some development works of the CMC could not be held some days ago due to the Covid situation.
“The local administration is the authority to execute the works resolved by the council and moreover, councillors should get the general works done from administrative authorities.”
“I am always willing to follow-up and bring government approvals for issues that require government attention,” said Fernandes.
“At the same time, just by saying the panel is with the government and with the party and then, not cooperating or not doing anything to carry forward government proposed programmes and activities is not a good sign,” he added.
“I have got and I am still getting many works proposed by various panchayats in Canacona and also from the municipality. My work will continue and I am not afraid of anybody's threats.”
A few days ago, CMC chairperson Simon Rebello had accused the chief officer/municipal engineer of failing to cooperate in executing development works in the municipality.
Ruling councillor Ramakant Naikgaunkar affixed the responsibility on the Canacona MLA and went to the extent of saying that the ruling panel would not go with the BJP party candidate and would field their own candidate, staking his own claim to the BJP ticket.
He alleged that the three BJP leaders, Fernandes, ex-minister Ramesh Tawadkar and ex-MLA Vijay Poi Khot were presently working in three different directions in Canacona.
