AGNELO PEREIRA
MAPUSA
The Bharatiya Janata Party is spoilt for choice in Mapusa.
With the support of a 16-member strong BJP-backed group at the Mapusa Municipal Council and some Independents ready to back them it should have been a walk in the park for the BJP.
But that’s where the problem lies.
A little over half a dozen of councillors are aspiring to be the next MLA of Mapusa.
Going by the common perception, if being a chairperson is the natural choice for the next step up the political ladder, than the present council has four claimants -- Sudhir Kandolkar, Sandip Falari, Rohan Kavlekar and Ryan Braganza (current chairperson).
There are indications that all four have the desire to take their political career to the next level.
Former chairperson and senior most councilor in the group, Sudhir Kandolkar fancies his chance and in fact is better placed among the lot.
“I have worked with Babush for the last 25 years. In fact in 1998, we made him the chairperson of Mapusa and later were instrumental to elect him as the MLA of Mapusa,” said Kandolkar, who has been a councillor since 1995.
Ex-chairperson, Sandip Falari informed that he was ready to take any responsibility entrusted by the party.
“Who would not like to be nominated and take additional responsibility?” Falari said clearly indicating that he was in the race.
Sources disclosed that at least two first-time councilors -- Tushar Tople and Martin Carrasco -- were also in the race.
But with Joshua D’Souza, son of former Mapusa MLA dropping subtle hints on Saturday that he was ready to follow his father’s footsteps, the task has become all the more difficult for the saffron party.
Former chairperson, Sandip Falari admitted that Joshua has become a strong contender for the ticket after he indicated his willingness on Saturday.
The public outpouring witnessed after the death of Babush also favours his son.
“He may have not been a star councillor but he has definitely become a star candidate now,” Falari, who was known to be a close confidante of former Mapusa MLA, said.
“It will be difficult for the leadership to overlook Joshua’s claim,” he added.
With Goa Forward Party also ready to back the former Mapusa MLA’s son, the BJP will have to do tight
rope-walking while choosing the candidate.
Apart from the councilors, PA to CM, Rupesh Kamat who is a resident of Mapusa is the only other name that figures prominently as one of the probable choice for the candidature in Mapusa.
BJP, General Secretary, Sadanand Tanavde informed that the party was yet to apply its mind on the issue.
“It’s too early to comment. The party has to sit and discuss before arriving at an appropriate decision,” Tanavde said.
Dhavalikar, Sardesai too roll up their sleeves
PANAJI: The void left by the death of Mapusa MLA, Francis D’Souza and how to fill it is expected to figure prominently in the discussions at the Cabinet meeting called by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at his private residence at Dona Paula on Monday evening.
Even before D’Souza could be laid to rest on Saturday, the two junior partners in the Parrikar-led coalition -- the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Goa Forward Party -- had more than publicly indicated they were coveting the Mapusa seat to widen their respective political footprint.
While MPG president, Deepak Dhavalikar, has said that the party’s central committee will take a call on contesting Mapusa in light of the party having secured the runner-up
position in 2017, GFP chief and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai was more forthright when he said his party would back D’Souza’s son Joshua, a sitting councillor, minutes after he visited the family to pay a condolence visit.
Both MGP and GFP who are tied at a legislative strength of three, have for long engaged in a battle of one up-manship within the ruling coalition. The tussle first surfaced, when in September last year, Parrikar had proposed annointing the MGP’s Sudin Dhavlikar with a leadership role in the government due to his own deteriorating health.
Sardesai, put a spoke in that wheel then. He tied up up with the three independent legislators - ministers Govind Gaude and Rohan Khaunte and Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar - and blocked any tinkering of the power equation in the ruling coalition.
Now, with by-elections due for three seats -- Mapusa, Mandrem and Shiroda -- both Dhavalikar and Sardesai are fancying their chances of adding to their kitty. Dhavalikar is keen to field his brother Deepak in Shiroda, and not one to be outdone, Sardesai has tendered Joshua an open invitation to “take forward” his father’s legacy.
