A no-confidence motion against Lopes was passed on Thursday. Nine councillors voted in favour of the motion, while six members abstained from voting. The no-confidence motion was moved at the behest of the BJP. With four councillors switching over to BJP, the defeat of Lopes in 15-member Council was a forgone conclusion.

Once again a councillor from Maachi community (fishermen) is likely to become new president of the DMC. Traditionally, the post of the president in the civic body has always gone to a Maachis with just an aberration in 1996 when Lopes `managed' to became president by taking two councillors from Maachis into confidence. There are seven councillors from Maachi community in the DMC - enough to tilt the balance. Narendra Bhatela, a councillor from Maachi communityis likely to be new president, BJP sources said.

Meanwhile, Finance Secretary RS Negi who is also Director, Municipal Administration has appointed GL Meena as a DMC administrator. Meena, an assistant commissioner in the excise department will look after the affairs of civic body till a new president is elected.

KR Kishor, additional magistrate, told The Indian Express that the process for election of the new president will start after Negi returns from New Delhi. Negi who is also officiating administrator of the Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli is expected here on Monday. As per the Act, new president and vice-president have to be elected within 25 days when non-confidence motion is passed.

In the DMC, the `democratic coup' took Lopes by surprise, though it was only waiting to happen. However, the ousted president of DMC failed to sense the mood after change in the political equation in the coastal union territory with BJP MP Devji Tandel, who wrested the seat from Congress, making nobones about his intention. ``We have paid them (Congress group) in the same coin'', BJP leader Anwar Mehmood said, adding that Gandesh Bakhia, a Maachi councillor backed by BJP was overthrown in December 1996.