On Saturday, former Cuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao said that seven councillors were with him and he would contest the elections either as Congress candidate or as any other candidate.
Joaquim, Chairperson Lavita Mascarenhas, Vice Chairperson Mario Moraes and several other councillors were present at the briefing. The seven councillors had earlier signed a no confidence motion against the CMC chairperson which however reportedly did not reach the DMA. The councillors have now alleged that the BJP had pressurized them to do that. Joaquim Alemao has alleged that money and muscle power is being used by the BJP to divide the council.
“Don’t pressurize the councillors to support some or reject some. I urge the BJP to allow the councillors to exercise their right to support what side they want to,” Joaquim warned.
Mario Moraes said the council was with Joaquim Alemao. “This is a family and there are some differences, but we will resolve them. But the BJP shouldn’t take advantage of the small rifts,” Mario said.
Mario further said that he had high expectations from BJP MLA Rajan Naik and retired director of municipal administration Elvis Gomes, but they both did not support the council. Mario claimed that Elvis’s entering AAP is a ‘fixing’ between BJP and the officer.
