CURCHOREM: Nine newly-elected councillors of Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) on Thursday moved a no-confidence motion against Balkrishna (Pinty) Uttam Sinai Hodarkar minutes after he was elected chairperson of the council.
The nine councillors — Jasmine Braganza (Carriamoddi), Rhucha Subhash Vasta (Khandiwada), Pramod Damu Naik (Bagwada-Shirford), Reema Alise (New ward), Yolanda Pereira (Vodlemoll), Tony Coutinho (Pongirwal), Carmelina Morais (Bethmoddi), Damodar Narcinva Bhende (Khamamoll) and Vishwas Pandu Sawant (Ghotmorad-Bansai) — signed the no-confidence motion and submitted it to the Director of Municipal Administration.
Two former chairpersons of the last council — Balkrishna Uttam Sinai Hodarkar and Vishwas Pandu Sawant, who is also the Curchorem BJP block president — had filed their nominations for the post of chairperson.
“After giving them 15 minutes for withdrawal of nomination, a secret ballot was conducted wherein all 15 councillors voted and Hodarkar defeated Sawant by ann 8-7 vote margin. Since there was one nomination of Rhucha Shubash Vasta for the vice-chairperson’s post, she was declared elected unopposed,” said Presiding Officer and Dharbandora Deputy Collector Kedar Naik.
It was after this that the notice of no-confidence was given. In another development, Vasta who was elected vice-chairperson unopposed submitted her resignation letter to the Director of Municipal Administration.
Reacting to the development within hours of his election, Hodarkar said he had not received any official intimation on the no-confidence motion.
“In a democracy people must choose their leader but, going against their wish and forcefully becoming the leader is not correct. First of all if they did not have confidence in me they would not have elected me, but, within a few minutes after declaring me elected how they lost confidence in me this the people have to decide,” Hodarkar said.
“It shows that democracy is at stake and one cannot do what they want to do in Curchorem”, he said.
When asked whether he would opt for any legal remedy, Hodarkar said he does not want to challenge it as according to him all the councillors are free to decide.
“Leaders do not get respect when they do not respect and value the opinion given by the councillors and do things by pressurizing them. I do not want anybody to face difficulties or pressure because of me. I want a good relationship with everyone without power,” he added.
Earlier, Naik administered the oath of office to the newly elected councillors namely Damodar, Sushant Rohidas Naik, Carmelina, Mangaldas Arjun Ghadi, Vishwas, Balkrishna (Pinty) Uttam Sinai Hodarkar, Aparna Vithoba Prabhu Dessai, Pramod, Clementina Fernandes, Naik Pradip Kushali, Jasmine, Tony, Yolanda, Reema and Rhucha.
Condemning the presence of the local MLA during the voting, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Curchorem convenor James Fernandes said, “By using strong arm tactics 11-elected councillors were paraded before the Chief Minister by the local MLA giving false impression of the victory at the CCMC election.”
“BJP local president and candidate for chairperson’s post was defeated today during the election. Now, the shameful act of passing a no-confidence motion against the democratically-elected chairperson Balkrishna Hodarkar, within half hour is a desperate attempt to scuttle the democratic process. A gentleman should accept defeat gracefully,” said Fernandes and asked if 11 councillors were with the MLA then how only nine signed the motion.
Curchorem Congress Block President Pushkal Sawant said, “Whatever happened in the council after electing the chairperson democratically by majority of the councillors is a murder of democracy. Councillors, who had voted Hodarkar to be their leader, should have stayed firm and tackled the pressure instead of changing their stand.”
Sawant condemned the presence of the MLA during the meeting.
“I was very happy and excited because councillors had kept the respect of the people of Curchorem by voting as per their own free will but, nothing can work before money power. With today’s development, the people of Curchorem have been put to great shame,” said former councillor Manohar Naik.
He asked the councillors (who switched sides) as to who had forced them to elect the incumbent chairperson if they had no trust in him.
