Team Herald
PONDA: As MGP celebrated the victory of deputy chairperson post to the Ponda Municipal Council, Ponda BJP on Saturday gave a jolt to MGP by putting a split into the MGP with one Councillor Yatish Sawakar joining the rival.
On Friday, the MGP with seven councillors defeated BJP in the deputy chairperson’s election by eight against seven votes. Despite, BJP having majority of eight in 15-member council, the party could not win the deputy’s post due to cross voting by one of its councillor. However, BJP irked with this, made their move on Saturday by horse-trading one of the rival councillor.
With fast political development taking new twist, more PMC politics likely to expected in next few days for hold of supremacy. The BJP is likely to bring no confidence motion against MGP backed Deputy Chairperson Ameena Naik as BJP strength after joining one MGP councillor reached to nine and MGP to six. So henceforth even if one cross votes it would have no effect on the BJP prospect.
The BJP was irked with fact that despite they were having eight councillors and MGP having seven councillors, the MGP defeated BJP in the deputy chairperson election. The State BJP senior party leaders on late Friday night took serious note of cross voting by one BJP councillor that helped to win the post for MGP.
Later Saturday evening, BJP Ponda Block Chief Shantaram Colvekar addressing to the media persons warned to take action against one BJP councillor for cross voting to MJP.
When asked PMC election is not fought on party lines, he agreed to it. However, he said when party leader take decision, the councillor has to obey it. Here one councillor backstabbed us.
MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar and Dr Ketan Bhatikar expressed happiness stating it a big victory. However, the MGP happiness is likely to last for short period.
