MARGAO: Margao MLA Digambar Kamat’s defection to the BJP has resulted in a major change in the equation within the internal politics of the Margao Municipal Council ahead of the election of its Chairperson on Friday. CM Pramod Sawant, in a late-night meeting with the councillors backed by Margao MLA and brand-new BJP entrant Digambar Kamat, and the existing BJP panel of councillors, urged the two groups to declare support for Damodar Shirodkar, a close aide of Kamat, who was expected to field him for the post even when he was with Congress.
Damodar Shirodkar filed his nomination on Thursday. “A lot has changed after Digambar Kamat joined the BJP and hence my support will be known on September 16. Political leaders will decide whether to support me,” he said, earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, senior councillor Ganashyam Shirodkar, who filed his nomination again on Thursday, claimed that he now has the support of eight councillors backed by the Goa Forward Party.
Sources said the three BJP councillors who had earlier proposed Ganashyam for the post of Chairperson were trying to propose another councillor from the BJP camp but backed out at the last minute.
Interestingly, Sadanand Naik from the BJP camp has also shown his interest to take charge of the Chairperson’s post.
At the moment, three councillors have filed their nominations for the post, Ghanashyam Shirodkar (Independent), Damodar Shirodkar (Kamat group) and Sadanand Naik (BJP).
Ghanashyam Shirodkar said, “I asked for support from GFP chief Vijai Sardesai and he has assured me the same. Earlier, he had refused to compromise on the word given to the Model Margao chief Digambar Kamat, but after the latest political development, it seems he has changed his mind,” he said.
“It has been brought to my notice that councillors have been asked to click a mobile photograph after casting their vote on the ballot paper. Allowing such a practice will vitiate the secrecy of the ballot and result in an unfair and biased election,” said Ghanashyam Shirodkar, who said he will approach the court if the election is not fair.
