MAPUSA
Virtually snubbing calls for mahagatbandhan, Congress blocks have begun the process to short-list candidates in the State and is expected to complete the exercise by July 31. In Bardez, some Congress blocks have put in motion the process of recommending candidate names to the District Congress. The District Congress then puts forward the names to Pradesh Congress Committee, which is then vetted by the Screening Committee. The final selection of the candidates rest with the AICC President, a senior party office-bearer informed. The young and youthful general secretary, Yatish Naik admitted that Congress did not fare well in Bardez in the past but expected things to change this time around. “We were weak in Bardez. But this time we are going to do very well in Bardez,” Naik said who is in charge of Calangute. He said work on organization building was going on systematically and in full swing. Sources disclosed that Mapusa Congress Block met on Saturday and suggested one name for the candidature of Mapusa constituency. Similarly, in Siolim at least three names have been shortlisted and all three names will be sent for the PCC to decide. “The Mapusa Block has recommended the name of block president, Vijay Bhike to the party,” said Babi Bagkar, Congress Vice President and in-charge of Mapusa and Siolim. He said there was no question of discussing any other names, as Bhike was the only person who has been actively associated with Congress activities in Mapusa. Bagkar admitted that once upon a time Congress boasted of names of stalwarts like former Mapusa Municipal Council chairpersons Michael Carrasco and Subhash Narvekar, Dilip Natekar, Armindo Braganza, etc, in Mapusa but most of them were either no longer with the party or have gone silent. Congress General Secretary and former MLA Agnel Fernandes said the various block committees are in the process of meeting and finalizing names. “It s a process where the blocks will recommend names for the moment. The final selection of candidates will be done at a later stage,” Fernandes said. The former Calangute MLA is in-charge of Saligao and Tivim constituencies. Congress Vice President Ulhas Parab is in-charge of Aldona, while Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar looks after Porvorim.
