PANJIM: In an attempt to wrest control over the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), seven councillors owing their allegiance to Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and one Goa Forward Party (GFP) supported councillor on Sunday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of chairperson’s election fixed on Wednesday.
With the joining of seven councillors, the total strength of BJP-backed councillors in the 25-Member MMC increased to 16. They were inducted into the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, MLA Digambar Kamat and BJP general secretaries Narendra Sawaikar and Damu Naik.
A total of eight councillors who joined BJP were vice-chairperson Deepali Sawal, Damodar Shirodkar, Damodar Varang, Sidhant Gadekar, Sagun Naik, Lata Pednekar and Sandra Fernandes. GFP-backed councillor Raju Naik rejoined the BJP.
Justifying the government’s decision to amend the Goa Municipalities Act by issuing an Ordinance, the Margao MLA said that “show of hands” is the right method to elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson of municipal councils.
He claimed that nowhere it is stated that voting for no-confidence or voting for the election of chairperson and vice-chairperson has to be by a secret ballot.
