No differences in party or with BJP: Sudin

TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: PWD and Transport Minister Sudin Dhavlikar ruled out any differences within the MGP and the BJP-MGP coalition.
Responding to media queries on the sidelines of a programme to disburse compensation to about 21 vendors from Ponda market, Dhavlikar said: “I’m not aware if there are any differences between the ruling councillors and Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar and even with the BJP-MGP coalition, as reported in the media. All are united and if at all there were any grievances it might be their personal issues.”
Spice vendors, who were relocated from the market, were given a compensation of Rs 5,000 per month for two months by Dhavlikar in the presence of MLA Mamledar, Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) Chairperson Dr Radhika Naik and some councillors.
It may be recalled that a couple of days back, differences between Mamledar and PMC had come to the fore after PMC decided to shift its vehicles including garbage vehicles in the city adjacent to a hotel owned by the family of former chief minister Ravi Naik.
Mamledar had expressed unhappiness with PMC’s decision and MGP youth wing had reportedly written to PMC expressing its displeasure. “The council is with Mamledar and there is no MGP youth wing. The letter may have been written by someone in his personal capacity,” said Dhavlikar.
The recent by-election to Ward 9 of Curti-Khandepar Panchayat had also exposed differences between Mamledar and the MGP-supported PMC Councillor Venkatesh Naik. Mamledar had declared his party’s support to Sarita Parab, wife of late Kamalakant, while Vekatesh had supported Sudhir Raut. However the seat was won by the BJP-supported candidate, Deepa Naik, by a margin of 38 votes. “People have elected the candidate who they thought was fit and capable. Maybe, the candidate supported by us was not fit for the post. I don’t want to get involved in panchayat matters, as it can be best handled by the panchas themselves,” said Dhavlikar.