Team Herald
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council now faces a new mix up and awkward situation not due to the results but because of what has transpired after the results.
The MMC, which was held by three powers — Digambar Kamat, Vijai Sardessai and Margao BJP — will now be impacted by the political alliance of BJP and Goa Forward.
Digambar Kamat’s Model Margao and Fatorda Forward of Vijai had demolished the BJP panels in Margao and Fatorda and got a clear majority in the municipality.
However, the latest coalition of Vijai with BJP has made the Fatorda and Margao MLAs political rivals overnight. Vijai is now a minister in the BJP cabinet and Digambar is now in the opposition Congress.
On Thursday, Chairperson Babita Angle and Councillor of Fatorda Forward Pooja Naik were present with Suchita Malkarnekar of BJP, Jaffer Budhani, Dorris Texeira and were assisted by Nitin Naik, Sharmad Raiturkar, ex-councillor Rajendra Azgaonkar and several other BJP men from Margao and Fatorda.
This means that Vijai may or may not need Digambar Kamat panel to rule the Margao Municipal Council and will have single hand rule over the Council. The picture is definitely going to change now for the Council.
When asked why Kamat was absent while offering the coconut to Lord Daambaab, Vijai in a very sarcastic way said, “I have not spoken to the Margao MLA and have not been touch with him for some time now. It is because it would send wrong signals.”
Since “one MLA has gone (I guess) he has been busy with damage control,” Vijai said.
There is speculation in the city council that there may be some action between the panels of Vijai and Kamat as their mentors will be sitting opposite to each other in the assembly.
However, Digambar Kamat says, “The election was fought on non political basis and the Councillors have their freedom. Hence, even if Vijai aligns with ruling party in the assembly it won’t have a major difference on the functioning of the MMC.”
It will be interesting to see whether the panels of Vijai and Kamat work together or against each other in the coming meetings.
