Day after joining BJP, Kamat faces acid test in Margao

ALL EYES ON ELECTION OF MMC CHAIRPERSON TODAY

Will the saffron flag fly atop the Margao Municipal building after a gap of 17 long years with Cong-turned-BJP MLA Digambar Kamat leading from the front to get his Man Friday Damu Shirodkar at the helm of Margao Municipal Council?

Or, will the Goa Forward Party and like-minded Councillors put up an united front to checkmate Kamat and the BJP from forming the Council on Friday?

These and a host of questions have come to the fore on the eve of the election of the Margao Municipal Chairperson scheduled on Friday as the battle lines seemed finally drawn. The election has assumed significance and comes against the backdrop

of Thursday’s political developments that unfolded in the State that has realigned forces and groups in the Civic body.

On paper, Kamat’s entry into the BJP on the eve of the

MMC Chairperson election should ensure smooth sailing for the BJP to cross the magic figure of 13 members in the 25-member Civic body. For, BJP’s nine Councilors and Kamat’s seven Councillors will take the tally of the group in the Civic body to 16, offering a comfortable position for the candidature of Damu Shirodkar.

On the other hand, Independent Councillor Ganashyam Shirodkar, who was proposed by three BJP-backed Councillors before the political developments unfolded in the city on Thursday, has now received the backing of the eight Goa Forward-backed Councillors. This became evident when two Goa Forward-backed Councillors Raju Naik and Vitorino Tavares have proposed Ganashyam’s candidature just before the process of nomination papers drew to a close on Thursday noon.

Political observers, however, have sounded caution for the two camps, warning that the numbers games may change on Friday, with the ghost of cross voting coming

read more on thegoan.net Candidate sends letter to presiding officer fearing polls may not be free and fair History repeats itself as Margao civic alliance down in the dumps Key issues plaguing Margao continue to remain unresolved