PRATIK PARAB
pratik@herald-goa
MARGAO: Though the delay in declaration of delimitation and reservation for the municipal wards has kept the political heads on their toes, the real worry is that of whether the election will be held on political party lines. In whichever case, the winners of the previous term Model Margao led by Digambar Kamat and Fatorda Forward led by Vijai Sardesai are preparing to stop the political juggernaut of BJP.
While Sardesai is open to an understanding with the Congress at all levels, but only after extensive deliberations. But Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar, who has supposedly resigned from his position after the ZP election humiliation and failure under his watch, has been working overtime against this understanding, even going to the extent of sending out a one-sided proposal to the AAP, which summarily rebuffed him.
BJP Councillor Arthur D’silva has a different personal opinion. D’ silva said, “The scope of work of a councillor who generally is a local leader, is quite different from that of the State leaders. Elections to these posts have to be independent.”
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that they are ready for any manner of election, party lines or non-party lines. When asked whether it is an advantage or disadvantage, the Opposition Leader said, “Party lines or non-party lines, both have advantages as well as disadvantages. We are prepared anyway.”
When asked regarding the plan to fight the MMC polls together with Sardesai, Digambar said “We are not averse to anything,” he said, but did not confirm any alliance at this moment.
Convenor of the Shadow Council of Margao Savio Coutinho said, “Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai are dependent on each other as they know that both can put each other in trouble if fighting each other or even if fighting apart.
Savio added that the Shadow Council will play an active role in the election and will support like-minded candidates. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “Digambar Kamat has not ruled out us coming together like in the last Municipal election. Last time the experiment was successful and the background is that it is a successful experiment to stop the BJP onslaught.”
Sardesai added that he is not doing anything different from what has to be done for the campaign but alleged that the BJP is using the (Karyakarta Melava) workers camp to give all the information to their workers even before the Court and public. “This workers camp is an election cheating machine” he charged.
The MLA underlined that on the burning issues of Goa, the public memory is not short. “There is a need to channelise this anger properly to come together as team Goa with a motto to save Goa now,” he said.
He added that as far as the talks of an alliance, they are waiting for the declaration of delimitation and reservation.
