the goan I network
MAPUSA
Former chairperson and senior councilor Sudhir Kandolkar, on Sunday, said sincere BJP karyakartas were being marginalised from the time people from other parties have entered into the BJP.
He also blamed three ministers in the coalition government who were instrumental in turning the tide against him when the BJP ticket was there for him for the taking.
Kandolkar said BJP had done grave injustice to sincere and hardworking karyakartas like him. “I have worked sincerely for the BJP all these years. There is grave injustice done. Despite offers, I refused to contest in the last assembly election. It’s not only me but all my supporters who are deeply hurt,” he said.
The former chairperson who was a front-runner for the BJP ticket lost out to former Mapusa MLA, Francisco D’Souza’s son, Joshua D’Souza who was finally selected to represent BJP in the Mapusa bypoll.
According to Kandolkar, three ministers in the BJP-led coalition interfered in the selection process. “I am aware senior BJP leaders from Goa had proposed my name to the central election committee. The interference of Vijai Sardessai, Rohan Khaunte and Vishwajit Rane led to denial of the BJP ticket to me,” Kandolkar alleged.
“This is a dangerous trend for the BJP,” he warned.
Interestingly, Kandolkar refused to blame any of the senior BJP leaders in the State for the ticket debacle. “Goa BJP leaders like Satish Dhond, Vinay Tendulkar, Dayanand Mandrekar, Damu Naik, Datta Kholkar and Sadanand Tanavde had all recommended my name,” he said.
The former chairperson said that he has not contacted any of the councilors so far but expected at least half the councilors to back him in the bypolls.
