PONDA: The no confidence motion notice against Ponda Municipal Chairperson (PMC) signed by eight out of 15 councillors will be decided at a special meeting on December 9, at 11 am.
With one councillor Shantaram Colvekar among the eight, who signed the no trust move suddenly changing sides to support the BJP backed chairperson, there is a new twist in the tale.
While it is a setback to the Opposition, it is going to bring respite to Chairperson Ritesh Naik, son of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik.
Shantaram is one among the eight signatories to the no trust motion tabled against the chairperson in the 15-member council on November 27.
After signing the no confidence motion, Colvekar later joined the BJP camp along with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik and PMC Chairperson Ritesh Naik and Councillor Anand Naik.
With Shantaram joining the BJP, its strength has gone up to eight which is a majority for the ruling and hence the no confidence motion is likely to fizzle out.
Meanwhile, when contacted Shantaram said that he was a BJP member and had never resigned from primary membership of the party and would support the chairperson.
Locals say that though the situation is favourable for chairperson to retain his post, one cannot predict what can happen until last moment.
