BJP-backed councillors set to rule Mapusa
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, NOV 7
The seven BJP-backed councillors-elect are all set to form the ruling panel of Mapusa Municipal Council on November 11.
The seven councillors are Marlin Oscar D’Souza, Wilma Braganza, Sandeep Falari, Antonio Alvares, Gurudas Vaiganker, Manisha Kavlekar and Sudhir Kandolker.
It may be recalled that Mapusa electorate had delivered a fractured mandate, as no panel could get absolute majority in the 15-member Mapusa Municipal Council.
Of the 14 candidates supported by BJP, seven got elected, while of the 13 candidates supported by Mapusa Nagrik Samiti, five candidates, Roohi Patre, Subhash Narveker, Michael John Carasco, Subhash Kalangutker and Deepak Mahadeshri won the election.
Hence, it was certain that three independent candidates, Ashish Shirodkder, Vijeta Naik and Roopa Bhakta, will play an important role in the formation of the ruling group of the council.
There was no possibility of Ashish Shirodker joining the BJP panel, as he had already resigned from BJP long ago. Only possibility was Roopa Bhakta or Vijeta Naik supporting the BJP panel.
It is learnt from reliable sources that BJP succeeded to rope in the independent candidate, Vijeta Naik, to form the panel. Sudhir Kandolker has been tipped to be the chairman of MMC, while Vijeta Naik has been offered vice chairperson’s post.
Sources further informed that an MLA from North Goa made frantic efforts to prevent BJP from forming the ruling panel. He had a secret meeting at Mapusa on Friday night with the some of the councilors elect to discuss about the formation of the ruling panel.
