MARGAO
Call it a turf war or simply a game of one-upmanship, Aam Aadmi Party's Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz were embroiled in a war of words over a proposal for alleged sub-division of plots in Cavelossim village.
A day after the Benaulim MLA questioned the provisional NOC issued by the Cavelossim Panchayat for the proposal to make plots, going to the extent of saying that Sarpanch Dixon will be responsible for approving the proposal, Dixon hit back at Venzy saying the MLA is preparing the road for the 2027 Assembly election.
In fact, Dixon pointed out that the 2027 Assembly election will be a game-changer and a historic election for the Benaulim constituency. He further said that Benaulim did not want someone to represent them who would only make complaints, but no development.
“See the Fatorda constituency, which is also ruled by an opposition MLA. There is a way to get work done. When AAP contested the election in 2022, they had promised to provide free power. Now, they say they could not fulfil the promise since they had won only two seats. Will AAP come to power in 2027 or people of Benaulim will have to wait for another five years to see development in the constituency,” Dixon wondered.
Saying there was no reason for Venzy to target him over the plot file, Dixon said the Cavelossim Panchayat has not passed a single commercial construction file during the last two years since he has been in office.
“I want to tell Venzy that I am not a puppet in someone’s hands. What Venzy spoke against me is the preparation of the road for 2027. If the MLA was really interested in taking up the issue over the plots, he should have got the facts checked and ascertained from me. But, he preferred to attack me and my village panchayat without any rhyme or reason,” Dixon added.
