-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Margao the cultural capital of the Saraswat Hindu Brahmins and commercial bastion of Salcette the Chairperson elected to the Margao Municipal Council this morning was one Ms Piedade Noronha of Ward No III Fatorda.
She is backed by three other independents and the BJP's 8 Councillors but the surprise 12th councillor extending support to her came from unexpected quarters from the group claiming alleigance to the Indian National Congress. This obviously stirred a hornets nest, and fingers were allegedly being pointed at one ex councillor who won the ward No 19 Mr Ganashyam Shirodkar according to the gossip doing the rounds. But this may be a figment of imagination as it could well be any other disgruntled councillor, for that matter. It may be recalled that Mr Churchill Alemao MP and his Man Friday Mr Vijay Sardessai had staked their political reputation alongwith Mr Digamber Kamat MLA and Minister for Power when they put up a panel of candidates as the official INC candidates, though elections are not fought on political lines, panels usually garner political support for their victory prospects. There were other candidates also backed by ex MLA of Fatorda Mr Luis Alex Cardozo himself a Schedule Tribe, but that caused the bitternes among aspirants and the BJP made the best of the INC infighting. Incidentally Mr Savio Coutinho of Ward No: 16 who polled the highest votes in this election in the entire Municipal elections held on 23rd October, 2005 and tipped of as a candidate of the INC for the Chairpersons post he being a Chairperson last term, had to eat a humble pie. It is also interesting and a record of sorts that the Chairperson happens to be a schedule tribe candidate and thus earns the distinction of being the first such to hold the office of Chairperson in the Margao Municipal Council. The first President was late Mr Vassudev Sarmalkar father of late Jyoti Sarmalkar of Comba Margao. With this a BJP backed Council has been put into place, showing clearly the BJP is down but not out, at least in Margao despite tall claims made by Mr Digamber Kamat now an INC MLA of Margao. It may be of interest to note that following the Constitutional 74th amendment giving statutory recognition to local self bodies Municipalities it is incumbent to reserve wards for the Schedule Castes (Dalits) and Schedule tribes (Gawda Kunbi Velip and Dhangar) Since this was note done the STs in Goa had threatened to boycott the polls Fatorda constituency accounts for a sizeable populations sufficient to give it atleast three seats. But interestingly many of the candidates who contested this time were Sceduled tribes. Earlier the Government referred to them as Other Backward Classes but now following the recognition of the three tribes exluding Dhangars who missed the bus due to a technicality the STs have realised that to be considered as Schedule tribes fetches them more politcal recognition than the general pool of OBC's . Thus though the BJP did not fare well in the Fatorda segment which has 10 seats of the total 20 Margao accoutn for the remaining with todays move the message has been conveyed to the INC that while infighting continues the BJP stole the show. GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao GOA
