Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: In a sudden political development, Quepem Municipal Council (QMC) Chairperson Rahul Pereira was forced to resign on Friday.
Pereira submitted his resignation to Directorate of Municipal Administration on Friday.
Addressing a press conference in Quepem, Pereira said that he was forced to resign. “It was a hard decision. I had initiated many developmental works in Quepem municipal area. The Quepem market project was my dream project. It was my dream to lay the foundation stone for the market complex project. I had asked Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar to allow me to continue as the chairperson for two more months, so that I could lay the foundation stone for the market complex, but Kavlekar succumbed to pressure of some councillors and forced me to resign,” Pereira said.
Pereira said that many people from Quepem had also requested Kavlekar and the councillors loyal to the MLA, to allow him (Pereira) to be on the chair for two more months. “I had requested both Kavlekar as well as the councillors to give me sixty days time, but they rejected my request so I am forced to resign,” Pereira said.
Pereira also informed the media that in the next Council elections, he would field his own panel. An agitated Pereira said that he would think twice whom to support at the next assembly elections.
It is learnt from sources that Kavlekar’s close aide Dayesh Naik would be the next chairperson. Sources also said that Councillor Rashmi Bhandari has also expressed her desire to be on the hot seat, as such, the remaining term of the council would be shared between Dayesh and Reshmi.
Kavlekar has the loyalty of nine councillors in the 11-member council.
