CANACONA
Confirming this development, Gourish said he was called by the Dhavalikar brothers and handed over the party's 'B' form on Monday evening, indicating that he had been allotted the party ticket.
“I am filing my nomination papers on Wednesday,” he said.
Incidentally, the Bandekar family is not unfamiliar to the Lion symbol as late Sanjay Bandekar had himself begun his political career from the youth wing of MGP in early 1988s and went to contest the then bifurcated Canacona constituency.
Bandekar went on to become MLA first time on the MGP ticket, before switching sides during the PDF government and later won two more elections on the Congress ticket, before losing to BJP’s Vijay Pai Khot twice.
He remained a Congress leader until he joined BJP during the 2012 assembly poll and canvassed for then Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar.
Gourish was a professional seaman on foreign ships, but had cut short his voyage four years ago on account of the sudden death of his father.
Last year, Gourish had expressed his desire to step into his father's shoes by entering politics and contest the Canacona assembly seat.
“Talks with Dhavalikar were underway ever since relationship with BJP had got sour. Finally, the ticket was allotted to me on Monday evening. I have already begun canvassing to mobilise support,” Gourish told The Goan.
