After long, non SalceteMLA to hoist flag in Margao

Margao: Following the recent political defections, for the first time in recent years, Salcete has the lost the honour of having its MLA hoist the tricolour at the Independence Day celebrations at the South Goa collectorate in Margao on August 15.

Quepem MLA and deputy chief minister Chandrakant Kavalekar will do the honours this year, official sources said.

While it was Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai who hoisted the National Flag on days of national importance in Margao since 2017 until his ouster from the cabinet, former Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado had the privilege during his tenure as a minister from 2012 to 2017.Salcete now has three legislators in the Pramod Sawant cabinet — Velim MLA and minister for water resources Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias and Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa — all of whom defected from Congress to BJP.