MARGAO: Within 72 hours of the election, 15 BJP councillors of the Margao Municipal Council on Monday, moved a no-confidence motion against newly-elected Chairperson Ghanashayam Shirodkar.
However, these 15 councillors, five of whom had voted for Ghanashyam in the secret ballot, have not mentioned any reason behind their lack of confidence in their new chairperson. They only cited Section 56 of Goa Municipal Act.
Signed by 15 councillors, the no-confidence motion has been submitted to the Directorate of Municipal Administration, Gurudas Pilarnekar. Pilarnekar said there are provisions in the Act to handle such a motion, and has notified a special meeting to be held on September 23, to discuss the same.
“We express our no-confidence against Ghanashyam Prabhu Shirodkar and seek your intervention under Section 56 of the Municipality Act for removal of the said Chairperson,” the councillors said in their letter.
They requested the DMA to hold a fresh election to elect the Chairperson, and to restrain Ghanashayam from discharging his duties as Chairperson of MMC until the process is complete.
Councillor Mahesh Amonkar told reporters that the ‘misunderstanding’ between the 15 BJP councillors has been resolved.
“We need development in Margao and hence, government support is a must. The Chairperson elect has not taken us into confidence about his future plans for the civic body,” said Amonkar.
“Earlier, Ghanashayam had shown his willingness to join BJP, but changed his mind later,” he added. “He will know better, as to how he managed to get five votes from the BJP camp. Maybe he had offered them money, or threatened them, to cross-vote,”alleged Amonkar.
However, Councillor Camilo Barreto, said that he and the other councillors belonging to catholic community did not swear on the sacred coconut when they visited the temple at Zambaulim.
“We have taken the decision to move a no-confidence motion against the Chairperson upon the instruction of party leaders. This is not my individual decision; I am for the party,” said Barreto.
