Team Herald
PANJM: The BJP government has managed to draft in an “outsider” MLA Mauvin Godinho to head a key planning body but it has caused hurt anger and extreme frustration in the party ranks. This is so palpable that the normally reticent Dr Wilfred Mesquita, Vice President of the party exploded. “The BJP did not find a corrupt and dishonest MLA in its ranks, so they got one from outside”, Dr Mesquita told Herald.
The strong undercurrents were visible on the floor of the House, after the appointment of Congress MLA Mauvin Godinho as South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) chairman.
Speaking in the Assembly, St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh suggested that the Kadamba Transport Corporation chairmanship be given to Cuncolim MLA Rajan Naik who resigned as SGPDA chairman to accommodate Godinho.
“Good treatment is given to the outsiders whereas the inside person has been neglected,” Wagh said.
Naik has maintained that he was not forced to resign but has willingly resigned as SGPDA chairman.
Though the BJP MLAs have been deeply hurt over the decision none were willing to openly come on record over the resentment.
One MLA said that the decision to replace Naik, a BJP MLA, with Godinho of the Congress was neither fair nor right.
MLA Pramod Sawant said the decision may have been taken with some positive plans and Naik may be awarded some other chairmanship.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said Godinho is BJP’s 22nd MLA but due to
technical reasons he cannot join BJP.
Water Resources Minister Dayanand Mandrekar said the decision must be some political strategy of the government or the party.
