Group of 12 unite against Arthur, says development adversely hit
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Political instability has gripped the 20-member Margao Municipal Council.
As many as 12 city fathers on Thursday tabled a no-confidence motion against Chairperson Arthur D’Silva, saying the city’s development was adversely hit during the last one year and four months.
The no-trust motion notice was entered in the office of DMA with a request to call a meeting for removal of the municipal chairperson.
The signatories are Dayanand Deulkar, Vinay Shirodkar, Sadanand Naik, Babita Naik, Pratima Coutinho, Sangeeta Audi, Vice-Chairperson Berta Cardozo, Damodar Shirodkar, Laxmikant Kamat, Rosy Pereira, Sushila Nayak and Tito Cardozo.
Briefing the media in the presence of the signatories, Dayanand Deulkar said the 12-member group has come together in the interest of the city. “Margao has suffered on the development front during Arthur’s tenure. There’s been absolutely no development in the city over the last one year and four months,” Deulkar said.
He said the group will seek the support of the three MLAs, Digambar Kamat, Vijai Sardessai and Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, besides the government to usher in the city’s development.
“We have not contacted any of the MLAs before going ahead with the no-trust motion. But we will certainly seek the support of these three MLAs and the government to bring about development,” he said. He said the question of the new chairperson will be decided at a meeting of the 12 signatories.
When asked to comment on Arthur’s attempt to get Central funds to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore for the city’s development, Deulkar said, “Where’s the question of the city getting Rs 1,000 crore when even the state government had not received any central funds?” Councillor Damu Shirodkar said the new group is not aligned to any political party and will seek the support of the three MLAs as well as the government.
The group claimed that Arthur was initially scheduled to step down from office after 11 months, but he continued in office in violation of the agreement entered amongst the ruling group.
