CMC chief ousted despite resignation

TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CANACONA: Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) chairperson Ajay Bhagat was on Wednesday was voted out of office in a no-confidence motion, despite resigning from the post on Tuesday.
The special meeting called by the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) to take up the no-confidence motion, moved by six councillors including Deputy Chairperson Rajeshwari Pagui in the 10-member council, was incidentally only attended by the signatories. Others present were Councillors Madhav Dessai, Ramakant Naik Gaunkar, Suchita Naik Gaunkar, Ratnakar Dhuri and Champa Pagui.
Bhagat, who submitted his resignation on Tuesday, along with his three supporting councillors, Hemant Gracias, Simon Rebello and Sandesh Gaonkar, remained absent. Later, Bhagat informed that there was no point in attending the meeting, when he had already submitted his resignation a day earlier.
When Presiding Officer and Cuncolim Municipal Council Chief Officer Praveen Barad started the meet, he found none of the present councillors opposing the no-confidence motion and completed the formality by asking the councillors to raise their hands, supporting the motion.
Since no division was sought, Barad declared the motion as passed, with the councillors officially ousting Bhagat by 6-0 votes.
Incidentally, the meeting was considered a mere formality following Bagat’s resignation on Tuesday but the administration went ahead with the procedure of tabling the no-confidence motion.
“The report will be sent to DMA and fix a date to elect new chairperson,” informed Barad.