http://oheraldo.in/node/10323
Will Congress rule MMC despite having numbers? BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 25 — A day after the BJP-backed Margao Municipal ruling body was reduced to a minority, local party leadership maintained a "wait and watch" attitude for the political developments to unfold. Aware that the BJP lack the numbers to continue in office, with one of its Councillors Raju Naik switching sides, local Party leaders in private admits that the Chairperson Piedade Noronha is on her way out. But, party leader Rupesh Mahatme says all is not lost for the party, especially in view of the vertical divide in the Congress camp, with the two groups aligned to Power Minister, Digambar Kamat and PCC General Secretary, Vijay Sardessai. According to him, even if the Congress succeeds in ousting Noronha from office, the Congress will find it difficult to remain in power given the inherent differences in the party. Replying to a question, he said the BJP is ready to sit in the opposition for want of numbers, but cautioned that the party will devise an appropriate strategy as per the emerging situation. "Wait and watch" was his advice, when asked whether the 7-member group of Councillors will support any dissident Congress group to form a new Council. In the 20-member body, the BJP has now seven members, the Congress 8, two Independents and two Congress dissidents comprising of the Chairperson and Councillor Ciriaca Rodrigues. Though one of its Councillor, Raju Naik has broken away from the BJP, the party still believes that Naik would return back to the party fold in the number game. -- TUMCHER AXIRVAD ASSUM; DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England