MARGAO: Exactly a week to go to decide the fate of beleaguered Margao Municipal Chairperson Arthur D’Silva, allegations of horse trading and offers of “saguades” (gifts) have rent the air, with the opposition camp accusing the Chairperson of trying to lure away their councillors.

Arthur, however, has denied that he and his group have resorted to horse trading to win Councillors on their side.

Addressing the media, two of the signatories to the no-confidence motion on Wednesday came out in the open, accusing the Municipal Chairperson for trying to lure them with offers.

Councillor Sangeeta Naik claimed that Arthur along with Councillor Raju Naik approached her husband with a “saguade” and a plea to retain him in the chair till April 2014. “The Chairperson had no right to approach my husband. These same persons had charged the signatories for tabling the no-confidence because of our personal development. Why is the Chairperson eager to save his chair. Is it for his personal development?” Sangeeta asked.

Another Councillor Rosy Pereira said that Arthur had come to her house along with a group of Councillor with a parcel. “But I have made it very clear to him that I cannot take any decision without consulting my children,” she said.

Commenting on the allegations, Arthur said he and Councillor Raju never met Sangeeta’s husband at his shop, but came across him on the road while travelling on the road.

Similarly, he said that no attempt was made to lure Rosy with any offer. “There was a parcel in our hand, but it was dodol, and not anything else. There’s no question of luring anyone with offers,” he asserted.