TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: Ruling out infighting between the newly elected councillors of Ponda Municipal Council (PMC), Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar on Tuesday said the new chairperson would be decided at a meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar along with PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar.
It may be recalled that the Ponda Citizens Committee, a MJP-BJP coalition, won 11 seats and claimed to have support from two independents, while one councillor is affiliated to the rival PVS.
Rumours were spread that BJP-backed councillors along with two independent councillors had formed a separate panel against the MGP-backed councillors for the post of chairperson. Mamledar has, however, denied the claims.
Incidentally, the post of chairperson has been reserved for women and there are five women councillors in the PCC group.
“The decision (on the chairperson) will be taken soon at a meeting with the CM and the PWD minister. We will choose a candidate taking into confidence all 13 councilors. The date of electing the chairperson is yet to be announced by the director of municipal administration,” said Mamledar. Of the 14 elected, five had earlier served as councillors while nine councillors are new faces.
