MAPUSA
Four days after the former Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar quit the BJP and joined forces with the opposition Goa Forward Party, it dawned on the BJP that the former MLA who was with them for the last eight years was “tainted”, “someone who had criminal cases” and “is involved in illegal business”.
“A tainted person who has had criminal cases against him has no right to level allegations against others. What good work has he done? Everyone knows what illegal business he is running,” Nilkant Harlankar, the BJP MLA from Tivim said hinting at Kandolkar without taking his name.
The Tivim MLA along with North Goa BJP District President Mahanand Asnodkar, some panchayat members and office-bearers of Tivim BJP Mandal was addressing the media at the North Goa BJP office in Mapusa.
Comparing his credentials with his former colleague, Halarnkar said he was involved in social work for almost two decades and got elected continuously in the panchayat and as a sarpanch. He said he was also involved in the educational field.
“What has the former MLA achieved? He has only employed the youth in Matka business and led them on the wrong path,” he said.
He also said the former Tivim MLA had made some uncharitable remarks on BJP President Sadanand Tanavade and other senior leaders of the party.
“Anyone can join a party of his choice but people should not make wild allegations,” Halarnkar said, who had overnight quit Congress along with nine others and joined BJP.
The North Goa BJP District President Mahanand Asnodkar stated that all party-level committees were in place in Tivim and on one call all the karyakartas of the disciplined party would be ready for any challenges.
“We can provide a list of our committees to Kiran whenever he wants. Our karyakartas are always on their toes and ready to go into the battle and we are sure of victory,” Asnodkar said.
To a query why the BJP failed to take action against Kandolkar who had been critical against the party from the time of filing of the nominations for ZP polls, Asnodkar said the party gave a long rope to the former Tivim MLA with hopes that he would come around.
Slamming the Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai, Asnodkar said the people of Fatorda will teach the former TCP minister a lesson at the right time.
“Everyone knows that Vijai Sardesai is a ‘fotting’ (liar). People of Fatorda will teach him a lesson when the time comes,” he said.
Colvale Sarpanch Bhabani Salgaonkar, former Assonora Sarpanch Sapna Mapari, Camurlim panchayat member Sharad Gad and Tivim BJP Mandal chief Viswanath Khalap also spoke.
