the goan I network
MAPUSA
Stung on being refused the party ticket, former chairperson and BJP leader, Sudhir Kandolkar on Sunday noon resigned from the party and later in the evening joined Congress along with his supporters.
Congress is expected to nominate him as the party candidate for the Mapusa bypoll.
“Bab Sudhir Kandolkar has been a pillar of support to former Mapusa MLA, Francisco D’Souza and played a big role in D’Souza’s victory in the assembly elections from Mapusa. Today we welcome him along with his supporters in Congress,” said Girish Chodankar, President of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC).
Kandolkar along with more than 200 of his supporters joined Congress in the presence of Chodankar, Opposition Leader, Babu Kavlekar, Margao MLA, Digambar Kamat, Poreim MLA, Pratapsingh Rane, Curtorim MLA, Alexio Reginaldo Lourence, Tivim MLA, Nilkant Halarnkar, Santa Cruz MLA, Tony Fernandes, Congress General Secretary, Agnel Fernandes and a host of other Congress leaders.
Also present on the occasion was MGP leader, Vinod (Bhalu) Phadke who came to express his solidarity and support to Kandolkar for the bypoll with the intention to defeat a vindictive BJP.
Earlier in the day Kandolkar held a meeting with his supporters and well-wishers who gave him a go-ahead and promised to back him in whatever decision he took.
Soon after the meeting, he resigned from the primary membership of the BJP and all the posts he held in the party.
“I hereby resign for my primary membership from the Bharatiya Janata Party along with all the posts, duties and responsibilities of BJP with immediate effect,” he said in a letter addressed to the State President of BJP.
After accepting Kandolkar’s Congress party membership, Chodankar said party ticket for the Mapusa bypoll would be recommended by the State Pradesh Election Committee and the final decision will be taken by the central election committee.
3 ministers interfered in BJP ticket selection, says Kandolkar
MAPUSA: Former chairperson and senior councilor, Sudhir Kandolkar on Sunday said sincere BJP karyakartas were being marginalized from the time people from other parties have entered into the BJP.
He also blamed three ministers in the coalition government who were instrumental for turning the tide against him when the BJP ticket was there for him for the taking.
“I am aware senior BJP leaders from Goa had proposed single name (my name) to the central election committee. The interference of Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khuante and Vishwajit Rane led to denial of the BJP ticket to me,” Kandolkar alleged. “This is a dangerous trend for the BJP,” he warned and said BJP had done grave injustice to sincere and hardworking karyakartas like him. “I have worked selflessly and sincerely for the BJP all these years without any personal benefit. There is grave injustice done to me”, he said.
