Ponda MLA uses his colleague minister’s portfolio to wean away council support
Shadow boxing between Ponda MLA, Lavu Mamlatdar and formerMLA, Ravi Naik left Ponda Municipal Council into a state of complete paralysis.
Since the ruling council owed allegiance to Naik, everydevelopmental work or project was shot down at the behest of current MLA,sources said.
Allegations of harassment by the Ponda MLA were constantlyraised by the ruling group in the council. They repeatedly complained that theMLA raised unnecessary queries in connivance with municipal officers andhampered developmental work of the town.
“Ponda failed to see any development due to politicalinterference from leaders. State level leaders interfered in council politicsand hampered development by using government machinery,” said Dinkar Munde,Vice-Chairperson of the outgoing Ponda Municipal Council (PMC).
The Ponda MLA refuted allegations from the council that hewas involved in safeguarding his self-interest.
“I was only trying to avoid duplication of works,” Mamletdardefended.
Interestingly, the Ponda MLA criticized the lack ofdevelopment in Ponda and blamed PMC, which functioned under the blessings offormer MLA Ravi Naik, for the sorry state of affairs.
Although PMC has been brought under the administrator’s ruleand the government is yet to announce elections to the council, Lavu Mamletdar,however, has expressed his desire to field candidates in all the 14 wards inPonda.
“The council completed its term with no development to theircredit. The people of Ponda are looking forward for development therefore Ihave decided to field candidates in all the wards,” Mamlatdar said.
Former MLA, Ravi Naik, however, wasn’t sure of supportingany candidates although majority of the outgoing council members faithfullystood by him.
“Even though the ruling councilors had my full support, thistime I am not sure of taking interest in local politics,” former Ravi Naiksaid.
At present works worth of Rs 4 crore, which includeswidening of roads, tarring of roads and laying out gutters in municipaljurisdiction is being undertaken at the behest of the Public Works Department.
Although Ponda Municipal Council completed its term onFebruary 6, 2013, there is no certainty when the elections for the new councilwill be held.
The council was brought under an administrator and N S Navtitook charge as the administrator on February 7.
Although the outgoing term of the council was full ofcontroversies, which saw hardly any development in the city, the locals arelooking forward to the impending elections to the council.
