Team Herald
MARGAO: Upset with the loss of their candidate in
the election for the Margao Municipal Council’s new chairperson, the BJP-Digamabar Kamat camp of councillors is expected to move a no-confidence motion to dislodge Chairperson elect Ghanashyam Shirodkar on Monday.
On Friday, Ghanashyam won the election after 15 councillors, including a section of the BJP-Kamat camp, voted for him in the secret ballot. Kamat’s candidate Damodar Shirodkar lost, with 10 votes.
Sources said the 15 councillors of the BJP-Kamat camp were instructed to move the no-confidence motion against Ghanashyam during a meeting they were summoned to attend, by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat on Friday at Panjim. Sawant is said to have warned the councillors that the MMC will not be granted funds, or approvals for development, if they failed to dislodge the Chairperson elect.
“14 out of the 15 councillors have already signed the no-confidence motion and it will be moved before the Directorate of Municipal Administration on Monday,” said MMC sources.
Ghanshayam urged the political leaders of the BJP not to bring their party politics into the “autonomous body” of the Margao Municipality.
“They need to tell people the reason behind moving the no-confidence motion. I have yet to start my work. No-confidence can be accepted if someone fails to deliver,” said the MMC Chairperson.
The Shadow Council of Margao (SCM) lauded the councillors who voted for Ghanashyam, for their ‘independent thinking’. “There were high expectations that the councillors would be pressured to follow self-proclaimed Godman Digamabar Kamat, and thereby transfer the MMC reins to the BJP,” said Savio Coutinho,Convenor, SCM. He added that Ghanashyam, with his vast experience in the MMC, would bring it back on track.
