Decks cleared for Kamat to make his man MMC chief

Margao: With all councillors owing allegiance to Margao MLA Digambar Kamat having formally joined BJP on Sunday, the party has overcome the last remaining hurdle in holding its sway over the Margao Municipal Council (MMC).
With the latest development, Kamat’s plan to catapult his ‘chosen one’ to the post of the chairperson is unlikely to be met with any resistance from within the BJP camp. Sources said that the local bosses of BJP will be too willing to grant greater leeway to Kamat and keep him and his minions in good humour to ensure that the two factions — the original BJP karyakartas and neo-saffronites — work in tandem, at least until the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
While BJP is yet to declare its candidate for the election for the chairperson that’s to be held on October 12, Damodar Shirodkar, who was defeated by independent Ghanashyam Shirodkar for the polls held last month, is likely to be nominated this time too.
Following his defection to BJP last month, Kamat had toned down his stance over the issue of his choice of candidate for the chairperson’s post, maintaining that the decision will be taken jointly by him and the party leadership. “I am not alone now, I am a part of BJP, so the BJP leadership will decide,” Kamat had recently said.
BJP’s strength in the council rose by one on Sunday, taking its tally to 16, after Raju Naik, a councillor elected on Sardesai’s Fatorda Forward panel, also joined BJP.