Team Herald
MARGAO: Aggrieved over Margao MLA Digambar Kamat’s decision to select Lyndon Pereira as MMC chairperson, councillor Damodar (Damu) Shirodkar said he has decided to distance himself from the Opposition Leader. However, still, the Congress camp is putting in hard efforts on their patch-up.
On the other hand, Damodar’s supporters have demanded that he be given the chairperson’s post and that too before the next Assembly elections, as they apprehend uncertainty would prevail in MMC after the polls.
Sources informed that three meetings of supporters were held with the Damodar. Congress leaders have also reached out to Damu.
Damu said Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar was personally present at one of the meetings. Besides, the Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao had also spoken to him.
“Even Rao knew my contribution to the Congress. However, our MLA Digambar failed to recognise my work. I have been assured that I will be the next chairperson. I am not hungry for the chairperson’s post”, he stated.
“Damu is a loyal soldier of Congress and of the MLA for the past 20 years and hence he deserves the recognition, which Digambar failed to do”, said Savio Mascarenhas, one of Damu’s supporters.
Meanwhile, in another political development in Margao, first-time councillor and newly elected vice-chairperson Dipali Sawal is under pressure to step down from the post to accommodate Damodar. However, Dipali has denied the same.
Sources close to the Margao MLA informed that Model Margao Panel has requested Dipali to step down from the vice-chairperson’s post to accommodate Damu.
Accusing the opposition of spreading rumours, Dipali said, “No one has requested me to step down from the post”.
“Even our MLA has not discussed anything with me on stepping down as vice-chairperson. I know our MLA, he is a man of his word and gives recognition to those deserving at the right time”, she added.
