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PULSE OF THREE CONSTITUENCIES
BICHOLIM
* The seat will be fought by BJP even if there is an alliance with MGP
* Naresh Sawal may not be given the candidature even if he joins BJP
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CUMBHARJUA
* Workers turn down Parrikar’s proposal to take Madkaikar into BJP fold
* Members vow to work for victory of any BJP candidate but not Madkaikar
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PORVORIM
* Two names come up “ Guruprasad Pawaskar and Mahanand Asnodkar
* Workers to work against Rohan Khaunte if given BJP candidature
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With the elections fast approaching, the State Bharatiya Janata Party has sprung into action by holding meetings with workers of three vulnerable constituencies “ Cumbharjua, Bicholim and Porvorim “ during the weekend gone by. Interestingly, none of these three constituencies are represented by BJP.
While the senior BJP leaders held discussions with each party member from Bicholim and Porvorim constituency seeking their opinion on the probable candidate, Cumbharjua Mandal turned down Party’s proposal to take Congress MLA Madkaikar into the Party, sources informed. However, the candidates are likely to be finalised prior to the Vijay Sankalp Rally in these respective constituencies.
The three meetings held at BJP headquarters in Panaji were attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Party President Vinay Tendulkar, Party Organising Secretary Sadanand Shet Tanawade and senior leader Dattaprasad Kholkar, among others.
Sources informed that during the meeting of Bicholim constituency on Saturday afternoon, Parrikar told the members that the Bicholim seat will be fought by BJP even if there is alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). It was also learnt that Naresh Sawal wouldn’t be given the candidature even if he joins BJP.
The senior leaders also had meeting with individual members seeking their opinion on the probable candidate in the constituency. The meeting was attended by nearly 60 workers in the constituency including Rajesh Patnekar, Vallabh Salkar, Kanta Patnekar, Arun Naik, Vishwas Gaonkar and Shilpa Naik, among others.
“The members were called individually. The names of the members were written along with the names of the candidate they preferred. The members also informed the senior leaders that if Sawal is given BJP’s candidature, they would work against him”, said the source.
The members were also told that the candidate would be decided not only on the suggestions by the workers, but also based on the survey the Party is presently conducting in the constituency. It was also learnt that Shilpa Naik was the most preferred candidate by the members over Rajesh Patnekar. The candidate is likely to be finalised before the Vijay Sankalp Rally scheduled to be held on December 3.
The meeting of workers of Cumbharjua constituency however witnessed uproar over BJP’s proposal to take Madkaikar into the Party in the first week of December.
Sources informed that the members turned down Parrikar’s proposal to take Madkaikar into BJP. It is also learnt that another meeting of the constituency members with senior leaders of the Party is likely to be called in another few days. It was also learnt that the members agreed to work for the victory of any candidate fielded from among the BJP, but not Madkaikar.
The meeting of workers of Porvorim constituency witnessed similar situation like that of Bicholim. The members were called for one-to-one discussion with the senior leaders seeking opinion on the candidate of their choice in the constituency and also other issues. Two names came up “ Guruprasad Pawaskar and Mahanand Asnodkar “ during the discussion. It was also learnt that some members pointed out that if Rohan Khaunte is given BJP’s candidature, they will work against him. Nearly 40 workers from Porvorim attended the meeting.
However, earlier in the week, BJP’s National Organising Secretary held meetings with prominent Party workers of Porvorim, Panaji and Pernem constituency.
