MAPUSA
With at least two ex-councillors of the BJP fancy chances to contest from Ward 20 in the changed reservation scenario in Mapusa civic elections, the BJP may dump its candidate who had earlier made it to the list of the BJP panel to accommodate one of the former senior councillors.
However, Ward 20 candidate Deepak Mhadeshri, who had made it to the list of the BJP panel, has made it very clear that he will contest the election come what may.
“I have been approached by one former councillor of the BJP who wants to contest in the ward because his ward has been reserved but the party has not intimated to me anything so far. But whichever way the party takes a decision, I will 100 per cent contest the election,” Mhadeshri said.
A former Congressman, Deepak Mhadeshri, was inducted into the BJP along with four others on March 5 this year and within a couple of days, his name was declared as the candidate of the BJP panel from Mapusa council’s Ward 20.
Mhadeshri told The Goan that he will not succumb to any pressures and will definitely contest the election.
“In 2015 when my ward was reserved for Scheduled Caste, I took a break and did not contest the election. Neither did I contest from any other ward,” he said.
When asked whether he would contest from the opposition backed panel if he is dropped by the BJP, Mhadeshri said he will take a decision only after the party makes an official declaration.
“Let the BJP declare its decision first. Over 200 people are supporting me. I will decide my future course of action only after consulting my supporters,” he said.
In the meanwhile, the BJP in Mapusa has found itself in a bind after the government lost the reservation battle in the top court of the country and the consequent declaration of the reservation of the wards afresh.
With most of the former BJP-backed senior councillors out of the race, the party is struggling to accommodate senior and experienced candidates in its list.
“We have to work some way out where at least one or two former and senior councillors can be accommodated in our panel. And that can be achieved by only making them contest in some other wards that are not reserved. Ward 20 is one possibility,” a senior party official said, requesting anonymity.
