NESHWIN ALMEIDA
neshwin@herald-goa.com
Since the two MLAs who formed an alliance to rule the town in Margao have parted ways the councillors of the Congress and the Goa Forward are not quite sure if they are friends or ‘fre-nemies’- friendly enemies, a phrase created by today’s social media linguists.
They are not at loggerheads, and thus not enemies, but there is indeed a cloud over what their relationship now is, since the Digambar Kamat-Vijai Sardesai relationship has plummeted.
Councillors, in private, push the blame on the leaders for the perception of the rift in the coalition.
It’s been two weeks since Doris Texeira has resigned as the Margao Municipality Deputy Chairperson and the seat is vacant. There’s a lot of talk of Ward 10 councillor Tito Cardozo, son of former MLA Mama Cardozo and Goa Forward’s ST leader to take over the coveted post. But there’s a lot of confusion about what triggered this exit and the perceived cracks in the Margao Alliance between Digambar Kamat owed allegiance 10 councillors and Vijai Sardesai’s Fatorda First eleven councillors.
“To be honest the rift is not amongst the councillors but the confusion is between our leader Digambar Kamat and the Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and we got dragged into the controversy. All that I did was to make way for a new Deputy Chairperson because I had little to do in this post,” stated an agitated Doris.
While Tito Cardozo, a senior councillor in the Margao municipality, reading into all the controversies stated: “If our side of the Alliance and the Fatorda First councillors want me to be deputy-chairperson, I am willing to take the responsibility but I won’t look at the controversy as to why Doris quit. It’s her side of the alliance to divulge into the politics that played out.”
Chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudessai stated that the letter to conduct the elections and the due process is underway since the council cannot function without a deputy chairperson.
“There was no controversy or politics despite all that is exchanged. The council is united and we will decide a new chairperson. The Fatorda Forward is yet to elect one and no particular name can be singled out for the post. Regarding Doris, quitting was completely her prerogative and there was no question of political intervention, rivalry or breakaway from the alliance,” she said.
Digambar Kamat probably has a pragmatic take on this
“When Vijai and I came together, we were both Opposition MLAs who brought forth our numbers and formed an alliance. Over the last few months, Vijai as a minister became a part of the ruling dispensation and that’s bound to be a change in those numbers and a shift in allegiance, of some councillors, to a ruling MLA. Hence, my group fell short on the numbers and this is what triggered the resignation and the shift in politics. It’s that simple,” said Digambar.
But with the Sardesai camp, not officially stating that they would have toppled Texeira and yet slowly taking control of MMC, it is clear for Goa Forward that being fre-nemies is just fine.
