The Independents who met in a hotel at Betul Sunday night in the presence of Quepem Congress MLA Babu Kavlekar were of the view that they would support Nelly for the top post if she is willing to sever her ties with the Goa Vikas Party. Sources in the know said that the 12-member Independent group, which falls short of one member to have its own chairperson at the South Goa Zilla Panchayat, are exploring the possibility of forming the body with the support of Nelly. “We have given the offer to Nelly and it is up to her to accept or reject the same. Our only condition is that she should resign from the membership of the GVP before the Independent group accepts her candidature for the top post,” remarked an Independent ZP member.
Sources in the know said that Nelly has not taken any call on the leadership issue, though she may not be averse in heading the Zilla Panchayat body as part of the BJP-MGP-GVP alliance. It is learnt that Nelly appears not keen to leave the alliance at this stage as she wants the government to honour its promise to devolve powers and functions to the district Panchayat bodies.
Meanwhile, the newly elected ZP members belonging to the BJP had a meeting in Panjim with party leaders. However, the meeting turned out a courtesy call to the party leadership since most of the party elected representatives were preoccupied with the Assembly Session, which got underway on Monday.
