MARGAO: New Market Traders Association President Vinod Shirodkar, who has been taking on the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) for the manner in which issues of the municipal market have been taken up off late, has announced that he will not contest the association elections as his way of hitting back at his detractors.

Shirodkar, who has been at the receiving end of alleged false information about his role at the association, called an impromptu meeting of the market traders and in a show of strength, a large number of traders and association members showed up to support him.

The veteran President of the Association condemned the allegations that have been made against him, which he claimed was being done by ‘vested interests’.

He also questioned the timing of such allegations and at the public meeting, where messages had been circulated asking the traders not to attend the same, he stated that he had never taken any money on behalf of the association and that the accounts of the association are clean.

Shirodkar also gave updates about how the fixed deposits were made as per directions of the High Court and suggested what more can be done in the future.

He added that the reason he was not going to contest the elections is because for him the issues are always about the plight of the municipal market vendors and it should not become a matter of him, even though they are false allegations.

Shirodkar added that he and other senior committee members of the Association will remain as advisors but they want to give a chance to the next generation to come forward and take the reins of the association as there has to be a transition between the seniors and the juniors.

He added that there was no election recently due to the pandemic.

Shirodkar has been speaking out against the MMC for failing to maintain or carry out repairs at the market and how the market has suffered during the monsoon and the pandemic and other decisions taken by the MMC’s market committee recently.