Unlike her predecessor, the incumbent Mapusa Municipal Chairperson Priya Mishal managed to steer the ship well while chairing her first council meeting last week.
And, why not. When you have the backing of an experienced hand in council politics such as Prakash Bhivshet the councilor of ward 20, you sure have nothing to worry.
Mishal had hardly to do...err say anything at all in the meeting, as every time she was cornered by the opposition Mr PB came to her rescue. In fact, Mr PB was in the forefront while trying to defend the chairperson whenever she was found to be in a tight situation.
So what has brought the change in heart for Mr PB? During the reign of former chairperson, Shubanghi Vaigankar, Mr PB was in the forefront critiquing the chair then. So much so Mr PB tried his best to make life difficult for the former chairperson while she was chairing council meetings.
In spite of supporting the ruling BJP group in the council, Mr PB would never miss an opportunity to critique the chairperson then. He would maintain that it was ‘constructive criticism’ which is good for the functioning of democracy. The sudden turnaround, however, has flummoxed all. From constructive criticism to being a loyal defender, just beats us.
