VASCO: The elections to the post of the chairperson and vice-chairperson of Mormugao Municipal Council scheduled on Wednesday had to be called off as the presiding officer “fell ill” and could not attend the meeting.
Since the presiding officer Siddhivinayak Naik failed come for the meeting, Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar declared that the meeting has been called off.
When contacted, Sankhwalkar informed that he got a call from a relative of Siddhivinayak Naik informing that Naik was at Goa Medical College and Hospital as he had chest pain. Therefore, he said, he called of the election meeting.
Councilor Deepak Naik complained that, for the last two months, due one or the other reason the no confidence motion against the chairperson and vice-chairperson could not be put to vote.
He opined that the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) should have appointed additional presiding officer in case of emergency.
“Today, the presiding officer remained absent for the meeting at the last movement, on health issue. We demand that Urban Development Minister Milind Naik take cognizance of the issue and take action,” he said.
Meanwhile, when the councillors backed by Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida went to pay a courtesy visit to Siddhivinayak Naik in GMC, he had already been discharged.
According to councillors Deepak Naik and Nilesh Navelkar, they were informed by the medical staff that Naik had gone to GMC complaining about chest pain. On examination, the doctors found him normal. Naik had reportedly requested the doctors to recommend five-day bed rest.
Terming the act of Siddhivinayak Naik as a gimmick, the councilors and MLA Carlos Almeida have demanded that strict action against the officer. “My resort will be to seek the help of Urban Development Minister Milind Naik and sort out the long pending issue,” Almeida said.
Meanwhile, Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, who had come to GMC for some work, opined that it was wrong precedence to postpone the election due to the absence of the presiding officer. “The DMA could have deputed substitute officer. I am surprised at the delay in electing CP and VCP in Mormugao despite the council is run by the BJP,” he added.
