VASCO: With majority of the elected councillors from Mormugao Municipal Council being backed by the BJP, there are chances that the BJP-backed senior councillors are likely to be elected as chairperson and vice chairperson.
The oath taking and selection for both positions have been scheduled for May 27. The council will have to deliver a stable body and good governance which has been promised rather than an exhibition of one-upmanship, said the people of Port Town.
Among the few faces which top the claimants’ list for the positions is Deepak Naik, who has been the chairperson of MMC twice and a third time winner. The councillor also holds the position of the president of Vasco BJP Mandal.
Fredrick Henriques, who belongs to the Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida’s camp, has been re-elected from Mangor Hill and has been very active during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another name, which also comes from MLA Almeida’s camp, is of re-elected Yatin Kamurlekar. He is the secretary of Vasco BJP Mandal. His close association with Almeida puts him among the list of the claimants.
There might be some competition for the post of the vice-chairperson from all the camps of the three MLAs. The three councillors from Mauvin Godinho’s constituency wards, people say, may have aspirations since there has been no chairperson or vice chairperson from his camp in the past. One old face is Damodar Kaskar, who is from the Urban Development Minister Milind Naik’s camp may also figure in the list.
It is quite possible that the understanding between the MLAs and councillors to give an able and stable council which has been promised by the BJP MLAs recently may play a decisive role this time rather than MLAs going for an one-upmanship which will only going to contribute in internal politics and not for the development of Port Town, said some other citizens.
