CANACONA
Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Chairperson Simon Rebello is set to resign after occupying the top post for a little over 14 months, as part of a mutual agreement among councillors in the ruling group.According to sources, Rebello, a councillor from Ward 10 (Palolem-Ourem) is likely to submit his resignation on Wednesday, but will effectively remain as chairperson till August 16, for a period of seven days for the resignation to become effective.
As per the previous agreement, Chaudi Councillor Ramakant Naikgaunkar is expected to take over as chairperson.
It may be recalled that after initially declaring all 12 elected councillors of Canacona municipality as BJP supporters after the March 2021 elections, seven councillors broke away from the camp of then Canacona BJP MLA Isidore Fernandes and formed the council with Rebello as chairperson on April 1, 2021, leaving five others out of the ruling panel.
According to the initially agreed terms within the ruling group which later declared their allegiance to BJP and Canacona MLA and Dy Speaker Fernandes, Rebello was tipped to occupy the chair for 18 months, followed by Ramakant Naikgaunkar for 24 months and Devabhaga Councillor Sara Naik Dessai for the remaining 18 months.
However, during assembly elections, these durations were reduced by 2 months each in order to enable Palolem Councillor (Ward 11) Laxuman alias Bakal Pagui serve as chairperson for 6 months at the end of the term.
“As part of this revised arrangement, Rebello is stepping down in August, instead of October, to honour the assurance,” informed a municipal source.
