MARGAO: With the conflict between the two rival panels of councillors in the Margao Municipal Council heating up after the no-confidence motion against Chairperson-elect Ghanashyam Shirodkar, the city fathers fear that the internal politics would hamper the smooth functioning of the civic body, which will, in turn, affect the citizens of Margao.
Councillor Mahesh Amonkar of the BJP camp on Tuesday challenged Chairperson Ghanashyam Shirodkar to resign as councillor and get re-elected.
He told reporters that Ghanashyam was elected under the banner of Margao MLA Digambar Kamat’s ‘Model Margao Panel’ and now he has tagged himself as an independent councillor. However, Ghanashyam said that he did not need to resign and get elected upon the challenge of somebody.
MMC Vice-Chairperson Dipali Sawal told Herald that all the councillors need to be united again so that this division over the post of Chairperson does not affect the duties of the civic body.
“I have never witnessed such conflict amongst the councillors before. Now, there are fears that it can lead to a major political enmity amongst us if the differences are not resolved immediately,” she said. Pointing out that there was a good rapport between the councillors during his tenure, former Chairperson Lyndon Pereira said, “There were fewer differences between the councillors, and none of us has gone to an extent that led to division amongst us. Now, suddenly everything has changed, in the past few days. We were working like one family, despite having affiliation to different political parties,” said Pereira.
