KARSTEN MIRANDA
MARGAO: The behind the scene machinations for the coveted Margao Municipal Chairperson’s post are reminiscent of a Tom & Jerry-styled cat and mouse game.
A group of councillors is trying to smoke out their opponents while failing to notice that their own tails are on fire.
On Tuesday, councillors — Damodar Shirodkar, Tito Cardozo, Sangeeta Audi, Babita Naik, Sandanand Naik, , Sushila Naik, Rosy Pereira, Doris Texeira and Avinash Shirodkar moved a no-confidence motion against chairperson Gonzaco Rebello.
At this stage, it is expected that 11 councillors will vote out Rebello on the day of the no confidence motion and the group has claimed to have the support of all three MLAs.
Rebello who earlier withdrew his resignation stated that he won’t go begging for MLAs’ support and was confident of surviving the no-confidence motion.
It is his comments against former chairperson Arthur D’Silva and others that have isolated the chairperson and virtually sealed his fate.
“Rebello handling of these situations doesn’t put him in good light and with the fag end of the council’s tenure, there are 5 aspirants and so the motion will definitely go against him” remarked a councillor.
Sources pointed out that if Rebello had to stick to the ‘plan’ and not withdrawn his resignation,
the D’Silva camp would have already selected the next councillor for the coveted chairperson’s post, but Rebello’s move threw a spanner in the works.
Sources claimed that in addition to D’Silva, who has his eyes set on returning to the chair, the four other councillors who are interested in a last ditch effort are Tito Cardozo, Avinash Shirodkar, Dorris Texeira and Sadanand Naik.
On account of such multiple groups, it is not very clear who will emerge as the next chairperson.
Sources added that the D’Silva camp appears to have most of the numbers.
It maybe recalled that D’Silva also has good equations with Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza and has assured that he would be able to get the support of the government as well.
Unlike in the past, where the councillors were seen taking the blessings of the BJP leaders in Margao, all efforts seem to be on as to who will replace Gonzaco as the next chairperson.
The role of councillors who are on neither side of the fence has also come under scrutiny.
“I want to state that I was not aware of the signature campaign nor was I approached by anyone to sign a no-confidence motion”, said councillor Pratima Coutinho.
“Nevertheless, I am happy that I am away from either of the groups as I have no confidence in them. I feel they are ‘turncoats’,” she added.
Given the recent backlash the councillors have received over their recent dharna outside the Municipality building, they are also in damage control mode to protect their image in view of the upcoming elections.
